HIPAA Insider: Cloud Wars & AI Surprises

This week, we dive into the competitive world of cloud computing with AWS, GCP, and Azure, dissecting their HIPAA-compliant offerings. Plus, big news from Google Workspace as new AI features roll out—get ready for enhanced productivity tools like Gemini Advanced.

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HIPAA Insider
January 16, 2025

Top Story: Google Rolls Out New AI Features 🚀

Starting January 15, Google Workspace began incorporating powerful AI tools, previously exclusive to Gemini add-on subscribers, into standard Business and Enterprise plans. These features include email summaries, document drafting assistance, spreadsheet analysis, and even advanced meeting note capture. The upgrade promises a more productive workspace, but it comes with changes: subscription prices will increase starting March 17, 2025.

Why does this matter for HIPAA professionals? While AI can streamline workflows, users handling sensitive healthcare data must ensure the tools are compliant with HIPAA's privacy and security standards. Organizations should review Google Workspace's updated documentation to understand the implications for their use cases.

Key Takeaways:

  • New Features: AI-driven tools integrated into Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Meet.

  • Action Needed: Verify compliance of these tools with HIPAA before using them for protected health information (PHI).

Source: GPC (Google Cloud)

🎧 Must Watch: AWS vs. GCP vs. Azure

This week on the HIPAA Vault Show, we break down the competition among AWS, GCP, and Azure. From infrastructure to security, discover which provider offers the best balance of features and compliance for healthcare organizations.

Key Points:

  • Security First: Learn which provider excels at HIPAA-compliant safeguards.

  • Cost Efficiency: See how pricing stacks up for your hosting needs.

Why It Matters: Cloud hosting is the backbone of healthcare IT—ensure you choose wisely.

HIPAA Compliance Tip: Vetting AI Tools for HIPAA

Tip: Evaluate AI for HIPAA Compliance

As AI tools become integrated into everyday applications like Google Workspace, healthcare leaders must ensure they meet HIPAA standards.

  1. Check Data Handling Policies: Confirm that the AI provider offers a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) and outlines PHI protection measures.

  2. Conduct Risk Assessments: Before deploying any tool, evaluate its potential data privacy and security risks.

Proactive vetting will protect your organization from non-compliance risks.

Industry News Roundup 📰

Hospital Data Breach Settlement

Eskenazi Health has agreed to a $2.5 million settlement following a 2021 data breach affecting approximately 160,000 individuals. Impacted patients may receive up to $5,000 with proof of losses. The US Sun

FTC Updates Health Breach Notification Rule

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a final rule updating the Health Breach Notification Rule. This update expands the rule to include health apps and other technologies not previously covered by HIPAA, such as websites collecting health data but not operated by HIPAA-regulated entities.The HIPAA Journal

Healthcare Providers Face Stiffer Cyber Rules

In response to a surge in cyberattacks, regulators are proposing tougher cybersecurity rules for 2025. Smaller healthcare providers express concerns about the financial and technical challenges of meeting these new requirements.WSJ

Stay Secure in the Cloud 🌐

Navigating the cloud provider landscape is tricky, especially when HIPAA compliance is non-negotiable. That’s where HIPAA Vault’s HIPAA-compliant hosting comes in, our hosting solutions include built-in safeguards like encryption, intrusion detection, and routine audits to meet compliance standards.

Take the stress out of cloud hosting with a solution designed for healthcare professionals.