In today’s digital healthcare landscape, many developers and startups rush to build applications without fully considering HIPAA compliance requirements. A common pitfall? Using cloud services and product tiers that seem secure—but aren’t actually HIPAA-compliant.
This mistake can lead to serious compliance violations, security risks, and potential fines. In this article, we’ll uncover popular cloud platforms and services that developers mistakenly assume are HIPAA compliant—but really aren’t.
1. Heroku Basic and Standard Tiers
Heroku is a go-to platform for many startups and developers, but not all Heroku plans support HIPAA compliance.
❌ Heroku Basic & Standard tiers are NOT HIPAA compliant
✅ Only Heroku Private Spaces & Shield tiers offer HIPAA support
Even if you encrypt data and use secure coding practices, HIPAA requires a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)—which Heroku only provides for its Shield and Private Spaces tiers. If you're running a healthcare app on a Basic or Standard Heroku plan, it's time to upgrade—or migrate.
2. AWS Free Tier and Some Core Services
AWS is often viewed as a HIPAA-friendly cloud provider, but not every AWS service or tier meets compliance requirements.
Common AWS compliance pitfalls:
❌ AWS Free Tier does not come with a signed BAA by default.
❌ Amazon S3 Standard Storage (unless configured properly) may lack necessary encryption settings.
❌ AWS Lambda (default settings) may expose healthcare data without proper VPC isolation.
What to do instead?
✅ Sign a BAA with AWS before storing or processing PHI (Protected Health Information).
✅ Use AWS services explicitly mentioned in the AWS HIPAA Compliance Program (e.g., RDS, S3 with proper encryption, EC2 with hardened security).
✅ Configure VPC isolation for AWS Lambda when handling PHI.
3. Google Workspace (Free & Basic Tiers)
Many healthcare teams use Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) for emails, document sharing, and collaboration. However, not all Google Workspace tiers support HIPAA compliance.
Risky Google Workspace Tiers for Healthcare:
❌ Google Workspace Free & Business Starter – No HIPAA protections, no BAA.
❌ Personal Gmail Accounts – Even if encrypted, these accounts aren’t covered by Google’s BAA.
What to use instead?
✅ Google Workspace Enterprise or Business Plus – These plans allow a signed BAA and provide additional security features like data loss prevention (DLP).
4. Twilio Standard Messaging & Voice APIs
Twilio is a popular choice for SMS, voice calls, and video conferencing in healthcare apps, but most developers don’t realize that Twilio’s standard API services are NOT HIPAA compliant.
What’s not HIPAA compliant?
❌ Twilio Programmable SMS & Voice APIs – These do not support encryption in transit or at rest.
❌ Twilio Free & Standard Plans – No BAA is provided.
How to stay compliant?
✅ Twilio offers a separate “HIPAA-eligible” platform for healthcare applications, but you must sign a BAA with Twilio before handling PHI.
5. Slack Free & Standard Plans
Many healthcare startups rely on Slack for team communication, but Slack’s Free and Standard plans are NOT HIPAA compliant.
Key risks:
❌ No encryption at rest or in transit for PHI on Free & Standard plans.
❌ Slack does not sign a BAA on lower-tier plans.
What to do instead?
✅ Use Slack Enterprise Grid, which allows for a signed BAA and enhanced security features.
✅ Never share PHI over standard Slack channels—even on an Enterprise plan.
Final Thoughts: Always Check for a BAA & HIPAA-Eligible Services
A Business Associate Agreement (BAA) is essential for any cloud service handling PHI—without it, you’re not HIPAA compliant.
Before using any cloud service for healthcare applications, always ask:
✔️ Does this provider sign a BAA?
✔️ Does this specific product tier support HIPAA compliance?
✔️ Is encryption properly configured for PHI?
✔️ Are access controls and audit logs in place?
If your application currently runs on one of these non-compliant cloud services, now is the time to migrate to a HIPAA-compliant solution before you run into security risks or legal trouble.
🔍 Need help ensuring HIPAA compliance? Reach out to a security expert before making costly mistakes.
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