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Cloud Wars: AWS vs Azure vs GCP for HIPAA in 2025

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HIPAA Insider
September 24, 2025

HIPAA Insider: The Cloud Comparison That Could Save Your Practice Millions
by HIPAA Vault

How the Big Three stack up on pricing, infrastructure, services, and security for HIPAA compliance—updated with 2025 data.

Editor’s Note (2025 Refresh):
We updated our popular 2024 comparison to reflect the latest cloud developments, with new data, pricing, and insights from the HIPAA Insider Show featuring Adam Zeineddine and Gil Vidals.
Read the full 2025 comparission

Cloud choice = compliance risk.
HIPAA’s shared responsibility model means cloud misconfigurations—not the platforms themselves—are the leading cause of data breaches (HHS.gov). Signing a BAA and configuring IAM, logging, and encryption are non-negotiables.

2025 Highlights:

  • Infrastructure: Azure leads in regions, GCP in availability zones.

  • Services: Azure tops with 600+ offerings; GCP is dev-friendly.

  • Pricing: Google Cloud is the cheapest out-of-the-box.

  • Security: GCP encrypts by default; AWS/Azure require setup.

Final Verdict?

💡 Tip of the Week: Default Security Settings Matter More Than You Think

When choosing a HIPAA-compliant cloud, don’t just compare features—look at how much work it takes to make them secure. Misconfigurations are one of the leading causes of HIPAA breaches (HHS.gov), and secure defaults can make all the difference.

“Google offers encryption at rest and in transit by default. With AWS and Azure, you’ve got to enable that feature.”
— Adam Zeineddine, Host of HIPAA Insider Show

Why default security matters:

  • 🔒 Built-in encryption means less risk of human error

  • ⚙️ Fewer steps to configure = faster setup and fewer audit headaches

  • 📊 Easier compliance with HIPAA technical safeguards out of the box

HIPAA Vault’s GCP-powered hosting takes it a step further—with:

  • 24/7 support from compliance experts

  • Nightly encrypted backups

  • Signed BAA on every plan

👉 Explore HIPAA Vault’s Hosting Plans and start with a cloud that’s secure from the start.

Industry News Roundup

🏥 Columbia University Health Care to Pay $600K in Breach Settlement

Columbia University Health Care (CUHC) has agreed to a $600,000 settlement following a cybersecurity breach that exposed data from nearly 30,000 patients. The breach, which went undetected for six months, gave hackers access to names, birthdates, medical record numbers, and lab results via an internet-exposed system used by Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

The class action lawsuit alleged that CUHC failed to implement proper security safeguards. While CUHC denies wrongdoing, the settlement offers:

  • 🛡️ Two years of CyEx Medical Shield (credit + dark web monitoring)

  • 💸 Up to $10,000 in breach-related reimbursement

  • 💰 Pro rata cash payouts after expenses

Class members must file claims by November 25, 2025, and the final hearing is set for December 5.

💰 Feds Offer $10M Reward for Ransomware Kingpin Who Hit U.S. Healthcare

The U.S. government is offering up to $10 million for intel leading to the arrest of Volodymyr Tymoshchuk, a Ukrainian national accused of running major ransomware operations—LockerGaga, MegaCortex, and Nefilim—that struck U.S. healthcare and business sectors.

Between 2019 and 2021, Tymoshchuk and his crew targeted over 250 U.S. victims, encrypting data, halting operations, and leaking sensitive info when ransoms went unpaid. He allegedly:

  • Managed and scaled ransomware infrastructure

  • Paid affiliates like Artem Stryzhak up to 80% of ransom profits

  • Caused millions in damages across healthcare and global industries

Stryzhak was extradited from Spain in April 2025 and now faces federal charges. Tymoshchuk remains at large—anonymity no longer guaranteed.

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✅ What’s Included:

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  • Fully managed support + free migration

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🛡️ Serving healthcare orgs for 22 years. Zero violations. Zero nonsense.
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From cloud wars to breach settlements, staying ahead of compliance risks is more than smart—it’s essential.

Ready to make HIPAA one less thing to worry about?
👉 Explore HIPAA Vault’s trusted solutions and secure your data today.

Until next time,
The HIPAA Vault Team