FAQ: HIPAA and Cloud Computing (v1.0)
“Cloud computing” – outsourcing core infrastructural computing functions to dedicated providers – holds great promise for health care. It can result in more flexible, powerful, and reliable health information services for providers large and small. There are a number of basic questions health care providers might ask when considering cloud computing: What is it? Why would a health care provider use it? What are the risks? Are cloud service providers business associates? In this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document, the Health Privacy Project at the Center for Democracy & Technology answers these questions and more.