HIPAA Compliant Hosting Solutions
HIPAA Compliant Hosting by Atlantic.Net™ is SOC 2 and SOC 3 certified, HIPAA and HITECH audited, and designed to secure and protect critical healthcare data, electronic protected health information (ePHI)m and records. We are audited by qualified, independent third-party auditing firms to demonstrate our leading security and compliance services.
Whether you're looking for comprehensive, fully managed HIPAA compliant hosting solutions for your HIPAA servers or an unmanaged hosting service, we can assist you with all your HIPAA compliance hosting needs. Our high-performance Website, Database, and Storage servers are available in both Dedicated and HIPAA Compliant Cloud environments and backed by our 100% uptime guarantee.
The platform is secured to industry standards and provides a highly durable, feature-rich solution, powered by the latest tech, offering breakneck performance - available in both dedicated and cloud environments and backed by our 100% uptime guarantee.
HIPAA-Compliant Web Hosting
HIPAA-Compliant Web Hosting plans provide ultra-fast data processing capability in a highly available HIPAA-compliant web server. The fast loading speeds of our highly available HIPAA-compliant web servers come with security safeguards, high performance, and guaranteed reliability.
HIPAA Web Hosting Features
Windows HIPAA Compliant Hosting
Need Windows? No problem!
Our HIPAA-Compliant Windows Hosting supports all versions of:
- Windows Server 2019
- Windows Server 2016
- Windows Server 2012
If you are running older versions of Windows we can still help. Get in touch today!
Linux HIPAA Compliant Hosting
Need Linux? No problem!
Our HIPAA-Compliant Linux Hosting supports:
- Ubuntu
- Debian
- CentOS
- Fedora and many more!
We also support FreeBSD and Arch Linux.
One-Click HIPAA-Compliant Apps
These preconfigured apps start in seconds and with only a few clicks of a mouse. The apps include:
- LAMP/LEMP
- WordPress
- Docker
- Node.js
- cPanel/WHM
- October CMS
- Nextcloud and many more!
HIPAA-Compliant Cloud Hosting and Storage
The Cloud Hosting and Storage service is audited and certified to the required standards of the HIPAA Security Rule by an independent third party. The service is architected for enhanced privacy and ultra-secure access controls; the result is all the benefits of the cloud in a consumable, compliant service.
What's included? Take a look for yourself:
- Fully managed firewall solutions
- Robust intrusion prevention service and log management system
- Highly available infrastructure
- Encrypted virtual private network (VPN)
- Choice of Windows or Linux servers
- Business Associate Agreement (BAA)
- 100 percent network and hardware uptime service level agreement (SLA)
- Certified Data Centers with state-of-the-art redundant systems, power, and physical security
- Planning and documentation standards
- Extensive experience surpassing the security, compliance, and availability standards
- Backed by our always-available expert team of engineers
HIPAA-Compliant Cloud Storage is ideal for mission-critical applications without having to compromise speed, security, and reliability; it’s ideal for storing large datasets, file transfer, file storage, online storage, imaging, and health records that require enhanced encryption.
HIPAA-Compliant Secure Block Storage (SBS)
Atlantic.Net’s SBS is user-friendly, highly redundant, easily accessible, and scalable. The system is ideal for running mission-critical applications that require robust and scalable block storage. Need to run large queries on datasets? No problem! SBS has low latency and high performance for any HIPAA-compliant cloud storage workload.
For more information click here to learn more about our Secure Block Storage (SBS).
HIPAA Compliant Database Solutions
Need a secured, reliable, and high-performance database? We’ve got you covered!
Security, scalability, high-speed data transfers, and performance are the focus of our HIPAA Database Hosting Solutions. Atlantic.Net’s HIPAA Database solutions offer fast provisioning, ongoing management, and round-the-clock monitoring of your databases.
Our superfast solutions work with a variety of SQL platforms, both proprietary and open source. Whether you are hosting sensitive healthcare records or large data sets and images, you can rest assured that your databases will be backed by our 100% uptime SLA!
Supported Databases
Atlantic.Net’s HIPAA Database solutions offer fast provisioning, ongoing management, and round-the-clock monitoring of your databases. We understand that system performance is critical in supporting your business performance, we provide:
Microsoft SQL (MSSQL):
Microsoft SQL Server can support small or large data warehouses in a user-friendly package. Data is secured with Always-On encryption technology, row-level security, dynamic data masking, transparent data encryption (TDE), and robust auditing. The Enterprise editions support high availability and disaster recovery, offering fast failover, easy setup, and load balancing.
MySQL:
MySQL features easy access and interaction with the server. Triggers, stored procedures, and views enhance development efficiency and productivity. MySQL allows developers to roll back transactions and commit them to crash recovery. It supports a large number of embedded applications, making MySQL very flexible. It is faster, cost-effective, and reliable, and a solid security layer of MySQL protects sensitive data from intruders.
PostgreSQL:
PostgreSQL is a general-purpose object-relational database management system that allows custom functions using a variety of programming languages. PostgreSQL allows you to define your data types, index types, and functional languages. To enhance the system to suit your needs, you can develop custom plugins, such as adding a new optimizer.
Why Choose Atlantic.Net?
What is the Atlantic.Net difference? Why should you trust Atlantic.Net with protected health information (PHI)? This is why:
- Celebrating 25 years of excellence
- 100% Uptime Service Level Agreement
- World-Class Data Center Infrastructure
- Atlantic.Net High Touch Approach
- Our Emphasis on Security and Compliance
- Stability and Strategic Advantage
- Industry Leading Certifications and Partnerships
- Specialists at HIPAA-Compliant hosting
- 24/7 Technical Support via phone, or email
- Fully Managed Firewall Appliance
- Trend Micro Deep Security Suite (Anti-Malware, Network Security, and System Security)
- Multi-Factor Authentication
- Load balancing
- Encrypted Backup, Storage & VPN
- Fully Managed Daily Backups
- Log Inspection System
- HIPAA and Hitech Audited
- GDPR Ready
- PCI/DSS ready
- NIST Certified Data Centers
- EU/US Privacy Shield Compliant Data Centers
- Industry Awards and Accomplishments
As an experienced HIPAA-Compliant hosting partner, Atlantic.Net has an extensive history of building, managing, and maintaining a robust healthcare IT platform and HIPAA-Compliant cloud environment, one that is inherently secure and designed from the ground up to protect electronic patient health information (ePHI). Our customers can directly plug into this service knowing that ePHI data integrity is protected.
Below you will find a couple of examples of our HIPAA Windows, and Linux dedicated server packages, to help you comply with the HIPAA Security Rule. HIPAA dedicated server pricing is based on term commitment.
Custom Windows & Linux
HIPAA Dedicated Server Hosting
Get a Quote
CPU Up to 112 CPU Cores
RAM Up to 2 TB of RAM
Disk Custom Build Storage
Redundant Storage RAID 1, 5, 10, 50, or 60
IP Addresses IPv4 and IPv6, Private and Public
Monthly Bandwidth Up to 10Gbps
VPNs 
Server Management
Managed Backup
Managed Firewall
Intrusion Prevention
Anti-Malware
Network Security
Log Inspection
Integrity Monitoring
Redundant Firewall
FIPS Disk Encryption
Failover Hosts
Redundant Switching
Encrypted Data At Rest
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HIPAA Compliant Hosting Requirements Checklist
Implementing HIPAA compliance can be complicated. HIPAA compliance hosting involves integrating server hosting solutions with security and managed services to achieve HIPAA compliance. This also means that the end solution would include a Business Associates Agreement. We have compiled an easy, solution-oriented HIPAA web hosting requirements checklist, in accordance with the HIPAA Privacy Rule and Security Rule. Atlantic.Net can help provide all these components to help deliver HIPAA-Compliant Server Hosting Solutions. Below are nine elements you need for a HIPAA-Compliant hosting environment for HIPAA Web Hosting, HIPAA Database Hosting, or other HIPAA hosting setups:
Firewall
Essentially, you need to have firewalls fully implemented in your hosting environment. There are different levels of firewalls; however, the starting point is a perimeter firewall for your hosting environment. Next, there are the firewalls on the servers behind your main firewall. Finally, there are optional firewalls depending on your hosting needs. For example, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) can be deployed for certain web-facing implementations, like websites or web apps. Typically, hosting environments have a combination of perimeter and server-side firewalls along with solutions specifically designed for web applications, because apps create their unique challenges and have become such a frequent target for intrusions. Making sure that technology is system-wide is one of the HIPAA-Compliant server requirements.
What is a firewall?
A firewall is actually a kind of broad term. It refers to a hardware or software system (i.e., physical component or an app) that is used to secure a network, via a set of rules that control the traffic that’s entering and exiting it.
The hardware/software distinction is just one way to categorize firewalls, though. As indicated in the US Department of Commerce’s NIST firewall guidelines (Special Publication 800-41), and as expanded by TechTarget, five primary types of firewalls are application-level gateways (proxies), circuit-level gateways, multilayer inspection firewalls, packet-filtering firewalls, and stateful inspection firewalls.
Encrypted VPN
The VPN needs to be encrypted, and you want it to be strong. Some common VPN software that was widely used in the past is now considered unsecured. Not all VPNs are the same, so do your homework on what will work for your team.
What is an encrypted VPN?
An encrypted VPN is a technology that essentially creates a tunnel between two devices (typically the server and the client). The data is encrypted entering the tunnel and decrypted as it exits it.
There are a couple of standard encryption protocols for VPNs other than SSL, IPsec (Internet Protocol Security), and GRE (generic routing encapsulation). GRE gives you a framework with which you’re able to package and transport via IP.
Onsite and Offsite Backups
You want to have your data backed up locally as well as in an external location, such as external HIPAA data centers. Local onsite backups ensure quick recovery times when something goes wrong, while offsite backups can be used when the data center has a catastrophic failure. This HIPAA-Compliant hosting requirement is a reasonable way to ensure all the EMRs are safe. Note how many of these requirements are probably already in place for your company. If not, choosing a service provider that can help you achieve these baseline standards is key. Again, HIPAA-Compliant Hosting Services must meet this and the other HIPAA-Compliant hosting requirements as well.
What are offsite backups?
Offsite backups are a security tactic and disaster recovery technique that means data, and in some cases software, is being stored at a remote location from the company (frequently offsite data centers). Offsite backups are also called offsite data backups or offsite data protection – albeit, the latter really denoting the safeguards of the external environment. Offsite backups are simply a distribution or diversification method to prevent total loss of your valuable ePHI (electronic protected health information).
Multifactor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication is simple and fast to establish once set up correctly, similar to the other HIPAA-Compliant server requirements. Many of the systems you’ll see recommended will be based on Duo by Cisco, which will require everyone to have that app installed on their cell phones or receive SMS messages; though there are plenty of other brands you can choose from. MFA is one of the industry standards that has become commonplace over a simple username and password standard.
What is MFA?
Multifactor authentication, which goes by MFA, is a security check that uses two different forms of authentication to confirm the identity of the user. MFA is a stronger evolution of SFA (single-factor authentication), which only authenticates in one manner, usually via a password matching the username provided.
Private Hosted Environment
You cannot have a platform that shares resources with any other entities if you want to achieve HIPAA-Compliant server requirements. Working with a HIPAA-Compliant hosting provider with experience related to properly privatizing your infrastructure helps to ensure there are no missteps along the way. How you ensure that your data and environments are properly segmented from others is highly dependent on choices from the start. It is best to start your planning phase with experienced engineers or architects.
What is a private hosted environment?
What's meant by a private hosted environment is your servers are reserved solely for your use. That’s the key point and refers to Atlantic.Net’s Cloud Hosting (including HIPAA compliant cloud solutions) or dedicated hosting servers.
In a private hosted environment, the data is all in its own place, so it is not being shared or intermingled with the information of other apps or hosting users.
Atlantic.Net trusts and utilizes DUO for multifactor authentication solutions.
SSL Certificates
You need secure sockets layer (SSL) certificates established throughout your site, for any domains and subdomains hosting healthcare information or where sensitive ePHI is accessed. In other words, any parts of your site that need login credentials should always also have an SSL. Each server used for your site needs its SSL certificate installed. Also, be aware that an EV certificate, creating a green address bar, and/or respected brand name such as Norton or GeoTrust, can help increase trust, security, and credibility for your system.
What is an SSL certificate?
An SSL (secure sockets layer) certificate is software that creates encryption of data during transmission and validates ownership of the certificate to varying degrees.
Groups called certification authorities (CA’s), which typically have very high reputations for security, issue these certificates.
SSL certificates come in three main levels of validation: domain validation (DV), organization validation (OV), and extended validation (EV). All certs create https protocol and a lock icon, along with brief information available to all web users. EV is represented by the green address bar indicators in all major browsers. SAN certificates and wildcards certs are other types.
SOC 2 TYPE II and SOC 3 TYPE II Certifications
Atlantic.Net hosting solutions feature heightened security with fully-managed firewalls, VPNs with encryption, and intrusion detection and prevention systems. This is all backed by an infrastructure that has received SOC 2 and SOC 3 reports. The audit for the reports is based on the AICPA guidelines, including the Trust Service Principles. These tests of operating effectiveness included controls relevant to security and availability principles. These reports replaced the previous Statement on auditing Standards No. 70 reports, as the SAS 70 standard has been retired.
HIPAA Audited
Atlantic.Net will establish a secure environment that provides medical companies and patients online protection through HIPAA-Compliant Hosting solutions. These solutions help to better secure personal information in an environment built to safeguard ePHI (electronic-protected health information.) HIPAA hosting alone does not make you HIPAA-compliant. Compliance is determined by the adherence to the privacy and security rules outlined by HIPAA. HIPAA hosting only addresses one aspect of those requirements. You are still required to meet administrative and technical specifications of the HIPAA Security Rule to be compliant.
HITECH Audited
We are certified and audited by a third-party independent auditing firm to comply with HITECH.
What is SSAE 18 Certification?
SSAE 18 certification entails an official review and audit that verifies you are meeting all parameters of Statements on Standards for Attestation Engagements No. 16, a standard developed by the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) via its ASB (Auditing Standards Board).
This standard provides guidance on best practices through which a healthcare organizations or companies can report on their compliance control, as gauged through a formal audit.
In addition, HIPAA and HITECH Audits are also growing. Here at Atlantic.Net, our infrastructure is not only SOC 2 TYPE II and SOC 3 TYPE II certified but also fully audited for HIPAA and HITECH compliance. These audits are conducted on an annual basis through a third party independent auditor, who verify and attest to controls, checks, and balances of the infrastructure, as it relates to logical and physical controls and security.
Business Associate Agreement (BAA)
If you use any outside entity to assist with your ePHI, including a hosting company, you must have a BAA signed with that organization to ensure that your business associate is performing their side of responsibilities as well. That document does not clear you of your responsibilities related to HIPAA, but it does delineate the role that the organization takes and ways in which they should be held liable for any breaches, etc.
What is a BAA (business associate agreement)?
A HIPAA business associate agreement is a legal contract between a HIPAA covered entity and business associate, as defined via the US Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. These agreements safeguard ePHI (electronic protected health information), which is the sensitive personal health data and records of patients.
Covered entities are healthcare providers, plans, and data clearinghouses, while business associates are any organization or company doing business with covered entities in a manner that involves ePHI/medical records, such as hosting companies offering HIPAA cloud services.
Learn more about HIPAA Compliance and HIPAA Compliant Hosting:
What is HIPAA Compliant Hosting?
HIPAA compliant hosting is a web hosting solution that meets and exceeds the required physical, administrative, and technical safeguards mandated by the HIPAA regulations of 1996, including the subsequent Security Rule and Privacy Rule amendments of 2003. Managed service providers, covered entities, and relevant third parties are bound by these regulations to protect and uphold patient data integrity.
What does HIPAA stand for?
HIPAA is the common abbreviation for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a US federal law enacted during the Clinton Administration.
What is HIPAA?
HIPAA was signed and enacted into law on August 21, 1996. The law was created to uphold the data integrity of protected health information (PHI) and offer guarantees to patients about how their data was handled.
In 2003, the Privacy Rule and Security Rule amendments were introduced to govern the handling of electronically protected health information (ePHI) between healthcare practices and business associates. The regulations introduced several physical, administrative, and technical safeguards designed to keep patient data safe.
Does HIPAA apply to electronic records?
Yes, electronically protected health information (ePHI) is subject to HIPAA regulations. HIPAA legislation has adapted as the healthcare industry and the technology it uses has changed throughout the years. If you handle ePHI, look for a hosting provider with HITECH accreditation, as HITECH specifically relates to electronic records and increases the legal liability for non-compliance, and enforces tougher penalties.
What is a Business Associate Agreement?
The 2003 HIPAA Privacy Rule amendment introduced a new administrative safeguard declaring that all covered entities must have a signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA) in place with all Business Associates (BA) and Covered Entities (CE) that manage, process or archive Protected Health Information (PHI). As a business associate, Atlantic.Net is happy to sign a BAA with our healthcare clients.
How much is HIPAA-Compliant Hosting?
HIPAA-Compliant Hosting with Atlantic.Net is a lot more affordable than you might think. Our specialists are standing by to discuss your requirements. If you would like to experience a 30-day limited free trial, head over to our HIPAA Portal and start your HIPAA hosting journey today.
Are there free HIPAA-compliant hosting plans?
HIPAA-Compliant Hosting status is difficult for a hosting provider to achieve as there are many regulatory safeguards that the infrastructure must fulfill. For this reason, a free service is impossible. We do, however, offer some of the very best rates in the United States, and our infrastructure is some of the fastest available. We also offer a 30-day free trial, so head over to our portal and get signed up.
Is HIPAA-compliant hosting expensive?
HIPAA-Compliant cloud computing requires specialist configuration, management, and upkeep. The cost varies depending on what is in scope. Costs are incurred because extra steps are needed to safeguard data, meet regulations, and undergo audits. However, for those who need it, HIPAA hosting is worth the cost, especially considering legal liabilities when patient data is breached.
How is HIPAA enforced?
Overall, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for enforcing HIPAA safeguards. Controls are also built into the legislation that makes it mandatory for healthcare institutions to self-report any expected breaches.
The Final Omnibus Rule of 2013 introduced further liability rulings for hosting providers and instructed the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to enforce the expectations of the Omnibus Rule.
What are the consequences of failing to meet HIPAA regulations?
The Breach Notification Rule enforces a legal obligation on the healthcare institutions to report any breaches, and this may include any failings discovered during the annual auditing of records.
The fines are very steep for HIPAA Violations. There are four tiers of fines and the fine paid depends on the severity of the incident:
- Tier 1: Minimum fine of $100 per violation, up to $50,000
- Tier 2: Minimum fine of $1,000 per violation, up to $50,000
- Tier 3: Minimum fine of $10,000 per violation, up to $50,000
- Tier 4: Minimum fine of $50,000 per violation
Do I need HIPAA-Compliant Hosting?
We always recommend consulting legal advisors if you are unsure whether HIPAA legislation applies to your business. The general rule is that if you process or store protected health information that can identify a patient, then the rules apply. If the data is anonymized, the rules can vary; once again, seek legal advice if you are not sure.
What are the advantages of HIPAA Hosting?
HIPAA cloud hosting offers strategic advantages and alleviates headaches for our customers. HIPAA-Compliant Hosting ensures that all the physical, administrative, and technical safeguards of HIPAA are met with your Atlantic.Net services as long as you consume those services appropriately and maintain proper safeguards on your side as well. You can find many more details on the advantages here.
What certifications should my HIPAA-Compliant Hosting partner have?
Certifications help showcase your provider’s expertise and tenacity in maintaining the best HIPAA-Compliant environment. Look for SOC 2/SOC 3 certifications and HITECH and HIPAA Audited partners. To see what certifications and partnerships Atlantic.Net has, click here.
Is my hosting provider really HIPAA Compliant?
Managed hosting providers are not allowed to falsely advertise HIPAA compliance, however, what parts of a HIPAA audit a managed hosting provider will provide services for to get your team to full HIPAA compliance will vary. HIPAA is a federal law, and as such, it is illegal to breach the conditions of HIPAA and could result in hefty fines.
While some vendors might say they are "compliant," responsibility remains with the covered entity to ensure that they are engaging with truly compliant business associates. The only real way to ensure they are is if they have a solid BAA in place and have an audit performed. Some competitors may say they are HIPAA-Compliant, but they might only be talking about a server or a specific part of their service. It is best practice to always perform an audit of your environment to ensure no assumptions are being made between the hosting provider and the customer.
Should I consider additional HIPAA managed services?
One significant advantage of outsourcing HIPAA hosting is the additional optional managed services that can be bolted on like backups, server management, an IPS, vulnerability scans, anti-malware, and network security. For detailed information about the managed services available from Atlantic.Net, check out this page.
What mandatory features should my HIPAA hosting provider have?
While the features you need will depend on your requirements, these are a great start: Fully Managed Firewall, Multi-Factor Authentication, Intrusion Prevention Service, Antivirus Deep Security, Server Management Service with Auto-Patching, and On-Site and Off-Site Backups.
What technical support should be available from my hosting provider?
The level of technical support required will vary depending on your internal IT team’s resources and man-hours available. By default, 24x7x365 support is a must for all HIPAA-related requirements. Selecting a provider that also provides phone support, ticket support, tiered support, and consulting services is a must in HIPAA-covered industries. With the extra level of support available, it will ensure you and your team are never left trying to figure out an issue.
What Makes a Database HIPAA Compliant?
While databases are not inherently HIPAA-compliant, cloud hosting providers can deliver the services required to make compliance easy. HIPAA legislation requires organizations to implement the following to ensure compliance:
- Access control
- Data encryption
- Audit logging
- User authentication
- Data backups and disaster recovery
- Business Associate Agreements (BAA)
How To Run a HIPAA-Compliant Server?
To maintain a HIPAA-compliant server, you must follow a distinct set of guidelines. You should:
- Fully encrypt your data at rest and in transit
- Harden the operating system and close any not used ports
- Enforce unique user authentication and multi-factor authentication
- Maintain audit logs
- Perform regular server backups, that are also fully encrypted
- Assign appropriate user roles and privileges
- Perform vulnerability scans regularly to ensure no gaps are missed
- Utilize anti-malware, file scanner, network scanner to ensure no breaches occur
Can Sensitive Data Be Stored in the Cloud?
Sensitive data can be stored in the cloud, as long as the necessary technical safeguards are met by the cloud service provider, such as access controls, encryption, and a signed BAA is in place.
How To Implement HIPAA Compliance in Cloud Computing?
Merely securing a signed BAA does not guarantee compliance with HIPAA guidelines. A Covered Entity and its Business Associates must work closely together to ensure that they comply with HIPAA legislation, implementing key security features, such as multi-factor user authentication, industry-standard encryption, and activity monitoring. Partnering with a trusted HIPAA-compliant cloud provider, such as Atlantic.Net can take the hassle out of compliance.
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This page was updated with the latest information on April 22, 2021.
