Is Google Sites a HIPAA compliant solution?

We've been seeing more vendors, customers, and prospects asking about HIPAA compliant services. Since Paubox is a Business Associate to thousands of customers, we’ve been wondering if they are able to use Google Sites in a HIPAA compliant manner.

SEE ALSO: Google & HIPAA Compliance: The Ultimate Guide

We know the HIPAA industry is vast, so we can empathize with just how many people need to use cloud services in this sector. Today we will determine if Google Sites offers HIPAA compliant service or not.

Google Sites

Google Sites is a website building platform from Google. Google Sites differs from other website platforms like WordPress and Wix in that it's tailored for businesses and web-based teams.

See Also: Can I use Google Keep and be HIPAA Compliant?

What is a Business Associate?

A Business Associate is a person or company that performs certain functions or activities that involve the use or disclosure of protected health information (PHI) for a Covered Entity. In a nutshell, the role of a Business Associate is to help Covered Entities comply with the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

Read full article: What does it mean to be a Business Associate?

Business Associate Agreement provisions

If a Business Associate provides services to a Covered Entity, then a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) must be in place. A BAA is a written contract between a Covered Entity and a Business Associate and is required by law for HIPAA compliance. At a minimum, a Business Associate Agreement contains 10 provisions.

Read full article: Business Associate Agreement Provisions

Google and the Business Associate Agreement

We checked Google for mention of their ability to sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) for Google Sites. We found a Google Workspace Administrator Help article called HIPAA Compliance with Google Workspace. In the article, Google points out: "Administrators must review and accept a BAA before using Google services with PHI. Google offers a BAA covering... Google Sites."

Does Google Sites offer HIPAA Compliant Service?

The Business Associate Agreement (BAA) is a key component to HIPAA compliance between a Covered Entity and a Business Associate. Since Google Workspace offers a BAA that covers Google Sites, we conclude that Google Sites is a HIPAA compliant service, as long as you digitally sign a BAA with Google. Conclusion: Google Sites can be configured for HIPAA compliance.