Comparing hosting providers that protect patient data and meet federal compliance standards

Key points:

• Five hosting providers offer distinct approaches to HIPAA compliance, from specialized healthcare infrastructure to enterprise cloud platforms

• Healthcare-focused providers simplify compliance with pre-configured environments and included Business Associate Agreements

• Enterprise cloud platforms provide greater flexibility but demand technical expertise to configure and maintain properly

Selecting a hosting provider for protected health information involves more than comparing prices and server specs.

Healthcare organizations need infrastructure that meets HIPAA’s strict security requirements while supporting their operational needs.

The right choice protects patient trust, avoids costly violations, and enables your healthcare technology to function reliably.

The hosting landscape includes specialized providers built exclusively for healthcare alongside major cloud platforms offering HIPAA-eligible services.

Each approach has merit depending on your organization’s size, technical capabilities, and specific requirements.

1.  Atlantic.Net – Purpose-Built Healthcare Infrastructure

Why this provider leads

Atlantic.Net has spent over 25 years building hosting infrastructure designed specifically for healthcare compliance. Unlike general-purpose hosts that added HIPAA capabilities later, Atlantic.Net engineered their platform from the ground up to meet healthcare security requirements.

What makes it different

• SOC 2 Type II and SOC 3 Type II certified infrastructure with independent third-party audits confirming HIPAA and HITECH compliance.
• Signed Business Associate Agreements provided as standard with every hosting plan, not as an add-on.
• Data centers located across the United States in New York, San Francisco, Dallas, Ashburn, and Orlando, plus London for international operations.
• One-click HIPAA-compliant deployment that reduces setup complexity and configuration errors.
• HIPAA-compliant GPU hosting for organizations working with medical imaging, AI diagnostics, or machine learning on patient data.

 Who benefits most

Healthcare practices of any size that prioritize built-in compliance over extensive customization. Medical clinics, telemedicine platforms, digital health startups, and specialty practices find Atlantic.Net particularly valuable because compliance infrastructure comes configured correctly from day one. Organizations without dedicated DevOps teams appreciate not having to become cloud security experts to achieve HIPAA compliance.

 2.  Rackspace Technology – Managed Services with Healthcare Expertise

What this provider offers

Rackspace brings extensive experience managing complex hosting environments for regulated industries. The company holds HITRUST CSF certification, a framework specifically designed for healthcare and other compliance-sensitive sectors.

Key advantages

• White-glove service that guides healthcare organizations through compliance setup and ongoing management.
• Customized infrastructure design tailored to specific healthcare workflows and applications.
• Regular compliance reviews that verify environments continue meeting HIPAA requirements as regulations evolve.
• Comprehensive monitoring, network administration, and database management handled by Rackspace teams.
• Fanatical Support with round-the-clock availability for technical issues.

 Considerations

Rackspace focuses on organizations needing significant hands-on assistance. Their managed approach comes at a premium compared to self-service platforms, but delivers value for organizations prioritizing expert guidance over cost savings.

 Best suited for

Hospitals and healthcare systems undertaking digital transformation projects, organizations migrating legacy systems to compliant cloud environments, and enterprises that value consultative support throughout their compliance journey. Healthcare IT leaders who want strategic partners rather than just infrastructure vendors find Rackspace’s approach particularly helpful.

3.  HIPAA Vault – Fully Managed Compliance Platform

 Platform overview

HIPAA Vault has operated exclusively in healthcare hosting since 1997, building a completely managed platform that handles every aspect of compliance for customers. The company targets healthcare organizations that want hosting without the technical burden of managing it.

 Core capabilities

• Comprehensive managed services covering continuous security monitoring, automated vulnerability patching, threat detection and response, and compliance documentation.
• WordPress hosting optimized for healthcare websites with security hardening built in.
• Integrated compliance tools including secure email, encrypted file sharing, secure faxing, and backup management.
• Month-to-month contracts without long-term commitments, making it accessible for budget-conscious practices.
• S.-based support teams available around the clock.

Who it serves best

Small to mid-sized medical practices, solo practitioners, mental health providers, and specialty clinics without dedicated IT staff. Organizations that want to focus entirely on patient care while their hosting provider manages all technical and compliance requirements find HIPAA Vault’s fully managed approach particularly appealing. The company’s healthcare-exclusive focus means support teams understand medical practice workflows and common compliance questions. 

4.  Microsoft Azure – Enterprise Cloud Integration

 Platform strengths

Microsoft Azure offers HIPAA-compliant hosting as part of its broader enterprise cloud platform. Azure’s particular advantage lies in seamless integration with Microsoft tools already widely used in healthcare settings.

 Notable features

• Native integration with Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint, and other productivity tools commonly deployed in hospitals and clinics.
• Hybrid cloud capabilities that let organizations connect on-premises systems with cloud infrastructure securely.
• Built-in HIPAA/HITRUST control mapping through Azure Policy, simplifying compliance posture management.
• Extensive analytics and AI services suitable for healthcare data processing and insights.
• Business Associate Agreements available for HIPAA-eligible services.

 Important considerations

Azure requires technical expertise to achieve HIPAA compliance. Organizations must carefully select which services handle protected health information, implement proper encryption and access controls, configure comprehensive audit logging, and maintain appropriate backup and disaster recovery procedures. The shared responsibility model means Microsoft secures the infrastructure while customers secure their applications and data.

Ideal candidates

Healthcare systems and hospitals already standardized on Microsoft technology, organizations requiring hybrid deployments that span multiple environments, healthcare SaaS companies building applications on Microsoft’s platform, and enterprises with technical teams capable of managing cloud infrastructure properly.

5.  Liquid Web – High-Performance Dedicated Hosting

 What distinguishes this provider

Liquid Web specializes in high-performance hosting with dedicated servers and private cloud environments. While serving multiple industries, they offer robust HIPAA-compliant hosting options through isolated infrastructure.

Key capabilities

• Single-tenant dedicated servers providing maximum performance and security isolation.
• Private cloud environments that give healthcare organizations complete control over their infrastructure.
• Company-owned and operated data centers ensure consistent security standards.
• Fanatical Support with a 59-second response guarantee available 24/7/365.
• Both pre-configured HIPAA-compliant plans and custom solutions built to specific requirements.
• Third-party audits confirming HIPAA compliance capabilities.

Platform considerations

Liquid Web requires more technical knowledge than fully managed healthcare-specific providers but less than major public cloud platforms. Organizations need basic cloud infrastructure understanding, but benefit from Liquid Web’s managed services reducing complexity.

Best use cases

Established healthcare organizations running resource-intensive applications like electronic health record systems, telemedicine platforms serving high concurrent user volumes, medical imaging archives requiring significant storage and processing power, and custom healthcare applications needing dedicated computing resources. Organizations prioritizing raw performance alongside compliance find Liquid Web’s dedicated infrastructure particularly valuable.

Making Your Choice

Selecting the right HIPAA-compliant hosting provider starts with understanding your organization’s technical capabilities and support needs. Atlantic.Net leads this list for good reason—their healthcare-first infrastructure simplifies compliance while providing the performance and reliability healthcare applications demand. Organizations get compliance built in rather than configured separately, reducing both complexity and risk.

Rackspace and HIPAA Vault offer compelling alternatives for organizations wanting extensive managed services and hands-on support. Rackspace suits larger enterprises undertaking complex projects, while HIPAA Vault serves smaller practices seeking completely managed solutions.

Microsoft Azure and Liquid Web provide options for organizations with specific requirements. Azure works well for Microsoft-centric healthcare IT environments, while Liquid Web delivers high-performance dedicated infrastructure for resource-intensive applications.

Consider these factors when evaluating providers:

Technical resources: Do you have DevOps expertise in-house, or do you need the provider to manage infrastructure?

Budget constraints: Can you invest in premium managed services, or do you need cost-effective solutions?

Integration requirements: Must your hosting integrate with existing systems or platforms?

Performance demands: Are you running applications that require dedicated resources and high performance?

Support expectations: Do you want 24/7 expert support, or can your team handle most technical issues?

Remember that choosing a HIPAA-compliant provider is just the foundation. Your organization remains responsible for implementing proper access controls, maintaining comprehensive audit logs, training staff on security protocols, establishing backup and disaster recovery procedures, and regularly reviewing your compliance posture. The right hosting partner provides secure infrastructure, but achieving full HIPAA compliance requires ongoing diligence from your entire organization.