Setting up an on-premise data center is a considerable cost for healthcare providers. Colocation or cloud data centers are less expensive and more practical. However, these third-party data centers should still comply with the regulations set forth by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Let’s examine your choices for the best data centers that are HIPAA compliant.
5 HIPAA-Compliant Data Centers to Consider in 2024:
Why Data Centers in Healthcare Need to Be HIPAA-Compliant
HIPAA has strict rules on data privacy and accessibility. As the healthcare industry moves increasingly toward digitization, cybersecurity risks also increase. Because of this, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) implements stringent safeguards and penalties for HIPAA breaches.
Since data centers handle and store protected health information (PHI), they fall within the regulations imposed by HIPAA rules. The HIPAA Omnibus Rule holds business associates and subcontractors accountable if they are proven negligent in case of a data breach. Suppose you want to follow federal law, avoid legal consequences, and protect patient data. In that case, choosing a HIPAA-compliant data center and other related components can spare you from all the potential headaches.
1. AIS Network
With Tier III and Tier IV data centers, AIS Network operates secure facilities for different industries, including healthcare. They employ an independent auditor to assess compliance with HITECH and HIPAA standards. The company is also SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 Certified, meaning they have the appropriate security controls to safeguard your data.
AISN offers varying cloud solutions for different businesses. They can customize the cloud platform to meet your needs for a data center that’s HIPAA compliant. You can schedule a tour to check out their facilities.
AISN features include:
- 24/7 security monitoring with video surveillance
- Biometric and keycard access
- Redundant UPS systems and backup generators
- Automated failover process in case of unforeseen issues, such as network disruption
2. Atlantic.net
Atlantic.net is an award-winning service offering cloud hosting in HIPAA-compliant data centers. The company has data center infrastructures in New York, San Francisco, Dallas, Ashburn, Orlando, London, and Toronto. With world-class facilities, Atlantic.net’s data centers can support industries that need to comply with strict security requirements.
If you want to test the service, you can try their free one-month colocation service in Orlando, which is available for a limited time. Like their other data centers, the service location offers advanced security features to enable HIPAA compliance.
Atlantic.net data center features include:
- SOC 2, SOC 3, and HITECH certified
- Carrier-neutral infrastructure so that you can work with the network of your choice
- Encrypted data storage, backup, and VPN
- Linux and Windows servers
3. Data Foundry
Data Foundry data centers cater to businesses of all sizes, serving various industries such as technology, energy, and healthcare. Established in 1994, Data Foundry was among the US’s first 50 Internet Service Providers (ISPs). The company employs tenured and skilled workers, including onsite network engineers, electricians, and security staff.
Data Foundry houses its HIPAA-compliant data center tools in Texas and Houston. The facilities provide gated security access, a security booth with round-the-clock monitoring, a bulletproof man trap, badged entry, biometric scanners, and more. You can schedule a tour with the company to check out their services.
Data Foundry data center features include:
- 24/7 customer support
- Carrier-neutral
- Customizable space, from 1/2 cabinets to private data suites
- 2N or N+1 power configurations
- Privacy walls and corner-lock tiles
4. HostDime
HostDime operates data centers with dedicated servers in global locations, including Los Angeles, Orlando, Mexico, London, New Delhi, and Chai Wan. It creates and manages advanced Tier IV data center facilities designed specifically for critical missions.
If you have your own hardware, you can secure it in one of HostDime’s data centers, which has multiple on-net bandwidth providers. Whether you need 1U, full racks, or private suites, the data repository can provide colocation services in its ten locations.
HostDime data center features include:
- Global data centers in mid-sized cities
- Standard Tier 4 data centers
- Hybrid cloud solutions
5. Offsite
Combining the benefits of cloud computing with traditional colocation services, Offsite offers hybrid data centers. You can use your own physical servers and equipment, housing them in the company’s data center facilities in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Denver, Colorado.
Offsite data centers implement strict network security and physical safeguards to protect your equipment. They also include managed security services to ensure uninterrupted uptime with protection from natural disasters and other threats.
Offsite data center features include:
- 10Gbps network with redundant connectivity between other Offsite data centers and direct connectivity to Microsoft Azure
- Audited according to HIPAA/HITECH, PCI-DSS, SOC 1, SOC 2, EU-US and Swiss-US Privacy Shield, and ISO/IEC 27001:2013 standards
- 24/7 monitoring and maintenance
- 2N power and UPS distribution
- Different colocation cabinets or cages
Choose HIPAA-Compliant Data Centers
Using a colocation data center that’s HIPAA compliant has numerous advantages. Aside from being a more cost-effective solution, it also enables you to comply with strict HIPAA rules. Choose a trusted data center service to better protect your clients’ data and avoid a HIPAA violation. These colocation services are some of the best investments you can make for your healthcare business.
