VMware vCloud Hybrid Service Promotes HIPAA Compliance
VMware’s (VMW) vCloud Hybrid Service is opening its arms to healthcare customers and partners. Indeed, the virtualization and cloud company now offers HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) assessments and attestation for its hybrid cloud. Also, VMware now provides HIPAA Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) to customers.
For channel partners, the VMware moves are not surprising. Back in September 2013, the HIPAA Omnibus rule inspired many cloud and technology companies to introduce the BAAs for partners and customers.
In a prepared statement, VMware Senior VP Bill Fathers said the company has taken timely steps to ensure customers can collaborate, share, store and centralize Protected Health Information (PHI) in the hybrid cloud.
BrightLine CPAs & Associates Inc. — an independent Certified Public Accountant (CPA) firm that specializes in cloud provider assurance and compliance — performed an audit for VMware concluding that the company adheres to HIPAA security and HITECH breach notification requirements.
VMware isn’t alone. Cloud and MSP-centric technology companies including Continuum, Datto and Intronis (among others) now offer HIPAA-compliant solutions to their channel partners.