Cloud Storage
S3 Compatible
HIPAA compliant object storage S3 API
Achieve HIPAA Compliance with a Sovereign S3 API Object Storage Solution
For European firms handling US Protected Health Information (PHI), balancing HIPAA compliance with EU data sovereignty is a major challenge. A misstep can lead to fines of up to €10 million under NIS2 for security failures. Discover a path to compliance that strengthens security and eliminates vendor lock-in.
The topic briefly and concisely
A European cloud provider can be fully HIPAA compliant by signing a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) and implementing HIPAA's required technical safeguards.
Full S3 API compatibility is essential for HIPAA compliance, enabling the use of required security controls like IAM, encryption, and immutable object locks without altering existing healthcare applications.
Storing PHI in an "Always-Hot" object storage model eliminates data retrieval delays common with tiered storage, ensuring immediate access for critical healthcare workflows.
Organizations managing US health data face the dual mandate of adhering to the US Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and European data protection standards. The technical safeguards required by HIPAA—such as encryption, access controls, and audit trails—are non-negotiable. At the same time, a majority of EU decision-makers now demand European solutions to avoid US CLOUD Act exposure. This article outlines how to leverage a European, S3-compatible object storage platform to meet HIPAA requirements, enhance ransomware protection, and maintain digital sovereignty with predictable costs.
Bridge HIPAA and EU Sovereignty with Compliant Storage
HIPAA requires stringent safeguards for any Protected Health Information (PHI). For EU companies, this is layered on top of regulations like GDPR and the upcoming NIS-2 Directive, which imposes fines of up to 2% of global turnover for non-compliance. The core challenge is meeting HIPAA's technical rules while using EU-based infrastructure. A European cloud provider can execute a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA), a contractual requirement for handling PHI, even if located outside the US. This creates a clear path for storing US health data within EU borders. Using a geofenced storage solution ensures data residency, satisfying demands from 80% of EU leaders for local data control. This approach effectively harmonizes the technical demands of HIPAA with the sovereign principles of EU regulations.
Additional useful links
FAQ
What is a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)?
A Business Associate Agreement (BAA) is a legally binding contract between a healthcare provider (Covered Entity) and a service provider (Business Associate), like a cloud storage company. It requires the service provider to protect any shared PHI according to HIPAA's privacy and security rules.
How does Immutable Storage help with HIPAA and ransomware?
Immutable Storage, enabled via S3 Object Lock, makes data unchangeable and undeletable for a specified period. This meets HIPAA's data integrity requirements and provides robust protection against ransomware, as encrypted files cannot be overwritten or deleted by attackers.
Does your storage solution have egress fees?
No, Impossible Cloud operates on a transparent pricing model with no egress fees, no charges for API calls, and no minimum storage durations. This ensures predictable costs, which is especially valuable for managing large volumes of medical data and backups.
Can I restrict data to a specific country in the EU?
Yes. Our platform offers country-level geofencing, allowing you to store data exclusively in certified European data centers within a predefined country. This helps meet specific data residency requirements for highly regulated workloads.
Is your platform compatible with my existing backup software?
Yes, our platform offers full S3 API compatibility, ensuring out-of-the-box integration with leading backup tools like Veeam and Nova Backup. You can continue using your existing tools and workflows without any changes.
How does EU data storage help avoid the US CLOUD Act?
By storing data exclusively within EU data centers under a European company's governance, your data is subject to EU law, primarily GDPR. This structure is designed to avoid exposure to extraterritorial laws like the US CLOUD Act, which could otherwise compel US-based providers to disclose data regardless of where it is stored.
