The best HIPAA-compliant hosting provider is Scalahosting, which offers Managed VPS (Virtual Private Server) plans starting at just $29.95/month. Scalahosting’s HIPAA-compliant plans include a signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA), daily backups, encrypted data transfer, full server control and a choice between 3 US data centres.
HIPAA-compliant hosting refers to secure web hosting that meets the technical and legal standards set by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA-compliant hosting provides the technical and legal foundation that enables healthcare providers and businesses to store, process, and transmit patient data securely under US federal law.
To choose the best HIPAA-compliant hosting, check that the web host provider meets six criteria. The first is support for HIPAA’s four foundational rules: the Privacy Rule, Security Rule, Breach Notification Rule, and Omnibus Rule. The second is automated backups. The third is staging environments. The fourth is SSL certificates for encrypting data in transit. The fifth is an uptime guarantee of at least 99.9% uptime. Finally, the host should offer a content delivery network (CDN) to reduce latency and mitigate DDoS attacks.
Atlantic.Net and Liquid Web follow Scalahosting as the best HIPAA-compliant hosting providers. Atlantic.net starts at $350.68/month and includes a signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA), encrypted VPN access, daily backups, multi-factor authentication, and a 100% uptime guarantee. Liquid Web starts at $600/month and includes fully managed services, HIPAA-audited infrastructure and advanced security features.
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Best HIPAA-compliant hosting providers
- ScalaHosting – Best for HIPAA-compliant Cloud VPS
- Atlantic.Net – Best for HIPAA-compliant WordPress hosting
- Liquid Web – Best for managed HIPAA-compliant hosting
- DigitalOcean – Best for affordable HIPAA-compliant hosting
- Rackspace – Best for managed HIPAA-compliant cloud hosting
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) – Best HIPAA-compliant hosting for enterprises
- Microsoft Azure – Best comprehensive HIPAA-compliant hosting
- Who Are the HIPAA-Compliant Cloud Hosting Providers?
- Who Are the HIPAA-Compliant Managed Hosting Providers?
- Who Are the HIPAA-Compliant WordPress Hosting Providers?
- Who Are the Cheap HIPAA-Compliant Hosting Providers?
- Which Hosting Providers Are Not HIPAA-Compliant?
- How Do I Ensure the Uptime of HIPAA-Compliant Hosting?
1. ScalaHosting
- Offers affordable HIPAA-compliant hosting solutions
- Provides full root access and managed server services
- Provides daily backups and advanced firewall protections
- Limits HIPAA coverage to US locations only
Scalahosting offers affordable HIPAA-compliant managed VPS (Virtual Private Server) hosting. Their HIPAA-compliant plans are deployed on three US-based data centers in Seattle, Dallas, and New York. ScalaHosting’s Managed VPS plans start at $29.95/month and include daily backups, encrypted data transfer, full root access, and real-time server monitoring via their proprietary SShield tool. Scalahosting signs a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with eligible accounts to confirm they adhere to HIPAA’s requirements for data isolation, infrastructure controls, and security. However, HIPAA-compliance applies strictly for ScalaHosting plans hosted on US data centers. Read our ScalaHosting review for more information.
2. Atlantic.Net
- Offers fully managed HIPAA cloud hosting
- HIPAA and HITECH audited
- Advanced security features support HIPAA-compliance
- High monthly price point
Atlantic.Net delivers a streamlined and fully managed HIPAA hosting solution designed for organizations that need fast, reliable, and compliant infrastructure. Their HIPAA‑ready plans start at $350.68/month and include essentials such as a managed firewall, daily backups, and a BAA, all deployed quickly through an easy one‑click setup. The platform is built on independently audited systems with strong security measures like encryption, intrusion prevention, and continuous monitoring. With multiple certified data centers across major global regions and strict physical and network safeguards, Atlantic.Net offers a secure, scalable, and cost‑effective environment for handling sensitive healthcare data—all backed by decades of hosting experience and round‑the‑clock support.
3. Liquid Web
- Offers audited HIPAA infrastructure with owned data centers
- Provides signed BAA and advanced security tools
- Provides highly customized plans
- High monthly price point
Liquid Web provides premium HIPAA-compliant managed hosting solutions through dedicated servers and private cloud setups. Customers choose a pre-configured HIPAA-compliant hosting plan or custom-build a solution with Liquid Web’s team. Liquid Web’s HIPAA-compliant pre-packaged hosting plans start from $600/month. Liquid Web’s HIPAA plans include fully managed services and strong security features including firewalls, a VPN, off-server backups via Acronis Cyber Backups and an advanced intrusion detection system that offers HIPAA specific security alerts. Liquid Web’s HIPAA-compliant servers are housed in privately owned data centres located in Michigan, Phoenix, California and Virginia. Plans are HIPAA-audited by third-party security firms to ensure compliance.
4. DigitalOcean
- Offers a very affordable starting price
- Provides Developer-friendly infrastructure with API and CLI tools
- Provides scalable cloud architecture
- HIPAA compliance requires manual configuration by the customer
- No built-in audit or compliance monitoring
DigitalOcean offers HIPAA-compliant hosting through a select suite of products, including Droplets, Kubernetes, Load Balancers, Block Storage, and Spaces Object Storage. HIPAA-compliant hosting on DigitalOcean starts as low as $4/month for Droplet plans. Customers requiring HIPAA-compliance must request and sign a BAA through DigitalOcean’s team and are required to subscribe to either Standard or Premium Support. DigitalOcean allows customers to deploy HIPAA workloads in selected US data centre regions, such as New York and San Francisco. DigitalOcean backs its HIPAA-readiness with third-party certifications including SOC 2, SOC 3, CSA STAR Level 1, and APEC PRP. It also offers HIPAA Architecture Guidance to help developers design compliant applications using its infrastructure.
5. Rackspace
- Offers HIPAA-eligible plans utilizing AWS and Azure
- Includes compliance consultation and BAA
- Provides 24/7 managed support and monitoring
- Relies on third-party infrastructure
- High monthly price point
Rackspace offers HIPAA-eligible services that utilize managed cloud and dedicated hosting configurations. While Rackspace does not offer its own HIPAA-compliant server infrastructure, it builds fully-managed HIPAA environments using third-party cloud partners like AWS (Amazon Web Services) and Microsoft Azure. Pricing of Rackspace’s HIPAA-compliant plans depends on the scale of the deployment and partner cloud configuration. Rackspace signs a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) for eligible services and holds a HITRUST CSF certification. Customers of Rackspace’s HIPAA-compliant plans also benefit from 24/7 monitoring and premium support via their Fanatical Support team.
6. Amazon Web Services (AWS)
- Highly scalable cloud infrastructure
- Extensive compliance documentation and tools
- HIPAA compliance depends on user configuration
- Steep learning curve for non-experts
Amazon Web Services enables HIPAA-compliant cloud hosting through a shared responsibility model. AWS offers a BAA for eligible services and supplies tools for encryption, access control, audit logging, and monitoring. AWS users are then required to correctly configure their AWS hosting environment to meet HIPAA requirements. AWS aligns its compliance programs with HIPAA, HITECH, and the HITRUST Common Security Framework (CSF) to unify safeguards and controls across regulatory regimes. Pricing of HIPAA-compliant AWS plans is usage-based and varies by resource consumption and region. While highly powerful and cost-effective, AWS demands high-level technical expertise to ensure HIPAA compliance.
7. Microsoft Azure
- BAA included with HIPAA-eligible services
- Advanced security and compliance toolsets
- Complex configuration for full compliance
- Not cost-optimized for basic workloads
Microsoft Azure offers HIPAA-compliant cloud hosting through a shared responsibility model. Azure signs a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with eligible customers as part of its standard licensing under the Microsoft Product Terms. Azure supports a wide range of HIPAA-covered workloads, including web apps, databases, and machine learning tools. Azure uses a pay-as-you-go pricing model, so there is no fixed cost for HIPAA-compliant hosting. Microsoft also provides extensive documentation and security frameworks that map HIPAA and HITECH requirements to Azure services. Azure services are also aligned with key frameworks like NIST SP 800-53, FedRAMP High, and ISO/IEC 27001. Their Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager provides a helpful tool for tracking your HIPAA compliance risks.
What is HIPAA-Compliant Hosting?
HIPAA-compliant hosting refers to secure web hosting that meets the technical and legal requirements set forth by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA is a United States federal law that establishes national standards to secure Protected Health Information (PHI). ePHI refers to electronic individual medical records like medical appointments, treatment plans, medical histories, and electronic healthcare transactions, which must be kept strictly confidential and available at all times. HIPAA regulations prohibit healthcare providers and businesses (known as “covered entities”) from disclosing protected information to anyone other than a patient. In order to achieve HIPAA-compliance, covered entities must therefore meet strict standards when managing, transmitting, and storing ePHI. All files containing ePHI need to be hosted on secure server infrastructure with enforced safeguards.
HIPAA-compliant hosting helps provide the physical, technical, and administrative protections needed to lawfully handle sensitive health information. A HIPAA-compliant host therefore enables healthcare providers and businesses to achieve their own HIPAA-compliance and avoid legal consequences.
What Makes a Hosting Provider HIPAA-Compliant?
A hosting provider is HIPAA-compliant when it implements the necessary measures to uphold HIPAA’s four main rules (Privacy Rule, Security Rule, Breach Notification Rule, and Omnibus Rule). HIPAA’s Privacy Rule requires measures that restrict who is able to access, use and disclose ePHI. HIPAA’s Security Rule requires measures to protect ePHI through physical, technical, and administrative controls. HIPAA’s Breach Notification Rule mandates that any breach of unsecured ePHI be reported to affected parties and authorities. HIPAA’s Omnibus Rule extends these requirements to business associates, making web hosts directly accountable. HIPAA-compliant web hosts adhere to these 4 HIPAA rules by implementing 8 specific measures.
The first measure is providing a secure hosting environment, achieved through physically protected and access-controlled data centers. The second measure is providing data encryption at rest and in transit, which means the host supplies encryption tools and enforces secure transmission protocols. The third measure is that the web host signs a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with their clients. A BAA is a legal contract that confirms that the host’s infrastructure meets HIPAA standards, making the healthcare provider and web host jointly responsible for compliance.
The fourth measure implemented by HIPAA-compliant hosts is providing firewalls and continuous security monitoring. This means the host filters network traffic and monitors server activity to prevent any unauthorized access to ePHI. The fifth measure is offering access control tools and multi-factor authentication, which helps ensure logins are restricted to authorized healthcare staff. The sixth measure is deploying malware prevention and threat detection systems. Certain HIPAA-compliant hosts also provide clients with malware tools on an application-level. The seventh is SSL/TLS certificate support, which means the host offers or supports certificates that encrypt data exchanged between clients and their patients. The eighth is offering comprehensive data backup and disaster recovery tools for clients, which ensures availability of ePHI in the event of loss or downtime.
Who Are Required to Use HIPAA-Compliant Hosting?
All organizations that host apps, websites, or databases containing Personal Health Information (PHI) of US citizens are required to use HIPAA-compliant hosting. Healthcare providers, health insurance companies, research institutions, public health authorities, care facilities, and pharmacies are 6 examples of organizations who handle ePHI and therefore require HIPAA-compliant web hosting. When these organizations use non-compliant hosts, they risk exposing ePHI, violating HIPAA, and incurring penalties.
What Are the Penalties for HIPAA Violations?
Penalties for HIPAA violations refer to monetary and legal consequences for failing to protect PHI as required under HIPAA law. The most common penalties for HIPAA violations are civil monetary penalties (non-criminal fines). The breakdown of civil monetary penalties for HIPAA violations is outlined in the table below.
| Penalty Tier | Culpability | Minimum Penalty | Max Penalty per Violation | Max Penalty Per Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Lack of Knowledge | $141 | $71,162 | $2,134,831 |
| Tier 2 | Reasonable Cause | $1,424 | $71,162 | $2,134,831 |
| Tier 3 | Willful Neglect | $14,232 | $71,162 | $2,134,831 |
| Tier 4 | Willful Neglect (not corrected in 30 days) | $71,162 | $2,134,831 | $2,134,831 |
Civil monetary penalties range from $141 to $2,134,831 per HIPAA violation, depending on the level of culpability. Tier 1 penalties apply when the organization was unaware of the HIPAA violation and could not have discovered it through reasonable diligence. Tier 1 penalties range from $141 to $71,162 per HIPAA violation. Tier 2 penalties apply when the organization should have known about the HIPAA violation but did not act in intentional disregard. Tier 2 penalties range from $14,232 to $71,162 per HIPAA violation. Tier 3 penalties apply in cases of willful neglect that are corrected within 30 days. Tier 3 penalties range from $14,232 to $71,162 per HIPAA violation. Tier 4 penalties apply in cases of willful neglect that remain uncorrected after 30 days. Tier 4 penalties range from $71,162 to $2,134,831 per HIPAA violation.
Criminal penalties for HIPAA violations apply in severe cases of intentional misuse of PHI. These incur hefty fines and prison terms of up to 20 years.
How Do I Choose the Best HIPAA-Compliant Hosting?
Choose the best HIPAA-compliant hosting by checking if the web host meets 6 criteria. The first criterion is to confirm that the host fully fulfils HIPAA-compliance. The second criterion is that the web host supports automated backups. Automated backup tools help ensure ePHI is regularly and securely copied to protected storage locations. The third criterion is that the host offers staging environments. This protects the integrity of ePHI during development and reduces the risk of errors that could cause downtime or data exposure. The fourth criterion is that the host provides a free SSL certificate. This encrypts data transmitted between patients and healthcare websites and supports HIPAA’s requirement to secure ePHI in transit. The fifth criterion is that the host provides an uptime guarantee of at least 99.9%. This ensures continuous access and aligns with HIPAA’s requirement to maintain the availability of health data. The sixth criterion is that the host provides a Content Delivery Network (CDN). A CDN uses distributed servers to deliver ePHI securely and efficiently by reducing latency and blocking DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks.
Who Are the HIPAA-Compliant Cloud Hosting Providers?
HIPAA-compliant cloud hosting providers refer to HIPAA-compliant web hosts that sell cloud hosting. Cloud hosting uses virtualized servers to deliver scalable, on-demand resources over the internet, which must be secured to protect ePHI in compliance with HIPAA. Scalahosting, DigitalOcean, Atlantic.Net, AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud are 6 HIPAA-compliant cloud hosting providers.
Who Are the HIPAA-Compliant Managed Hosting Providers?
HIPAA-compliant managed hosting providers refer to HIPAA-compliant hosts that include managed services. Managed hosting involves the provider handling server configuration, updates, and monitoring, all of which must support HIPAA safeguards. Scalahosting, Liquid Web, Rackspace, and Atlantic.Net are 4 HIPAA-compliant managed hosting providers.
Who Are the HIPAA-Compliant WordPress Hosting Providers?
HIPAA-compliant WordPress hosting providers refer to HIPAA-compliant hosting providers that specialize in supporting websites built on the WordPress platform. Atlantic.Net and Liquid Web are 2 HIPAA-compliant WordPress hosting providers.
Who Are the Cheap HIPAA-Compliant Hosting Providers?
Cheap HIPAA-compliant hosting providers refer to HIPAA-compliant hosting providers that sell plans costing under $30 per month. These cheap plans still include key HIPAA-compliant security measures such as encrypted data transfer, access control, and signed BAAs. 2 cheap HIPAA-compliant hosts are Scalahosting (starts at $29.95 per month) and DigitalOcean (starts at $4 per month).
Which Hosting Providers Are Not HIPAA-Compliant?
Hosting providers that are not HIPAA-compliant do not meet the legal requirements for handling ePHI. The following 6 hosting providers are not HIPAA-compliant: GoDaddy, DreamHost, Bluehost, HostGator, Namecheap, and SiteGround. GoDaddy web hosting is not HIPAA-compliant, but GoDaddy’s Microsoft 365 email service is.
How Do I Ensure the Uptime of HIPAA-Compliant Hosting?
Ensure the uptime of HIPAA-compliant hosting by using a host tracker tool like UptimeRobot, Pingdom and Bitcatcha Host Tracker. Host tracker tools monitor uptime and server response time at fixed intervals to ensure systems handling ePHI remain continuously available. Bitcatcha Host Tracker pings your HIPAA-compliant hosts’ server every 5 minutes and sends instant email alerts in the event of downtime.