“These Google covered services … must be configured by IT administrators to help ensure that PHI is properly protected." “PHI is allowed only in a subset of Google services.” “Customers are responsible for … ensuring that they use Google services in compliance with HIPAA.” Google Drive is included in that list! If you configure file sharing properly in Google Drive, it’s a great choice for HIPAA compliant cloud storage.īut here’s a disclaimer that many private practice “influencers” miss: signing a BAA with Google does not make your Google Workspace/Google Drive HIPAA compliant. Protected Health Information (PHI) can be used in the following Google Workspace Apps: Gmail, Calendar, Drive (including Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms), Google Hangouts (chat messaging feature only), Hangouts Chat, Hangouts Meet, Keep, Google Cloud Search, Google Voice (managed users only), Sites, Google Groups, Jamboard, Cloud Identity Management, Tasks, and Vault. Google’s BAA does not cover every service in Google Workspace.
Need help finding it? Check out this help article: Google will provide a BAA for Google Workspace account holders. Google’s Business Associate Agreement (BAA) 5 Ways to Make Google Workspace HIPAA Compliant.HIPAA Compliant Gmail (17 Step How-To Guide for 2022).We have a bunch of articles about making Google Workspace HIPAA compliant: Free Gmail/Google Apps cannot be HIPAA compliant since Google will not provide a BAA for free Gmail accounts. You can use Google Workspace in a HIPAA compliant manner, but it is not HIPAA compliant right out of the box. You also get more cloud storage, phone/email support, additional security options and administrative controls with Google Workspace. What’s the difference between Google Workspace and free Gmail? Basically, the difference is having or at the end of your email address. If your email address ends with you are using Google’s free Gmail and apps, not Google Workspace.
Google Workspace is a paid subscription service. You’re probably using some of these tools already: Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar, Meet and more. Google Workspace is a collection of collaboration and productivity tools. Talk to us! What is Google Workspace and is it HIPAA Compliant?