Is Jira HIPAA Compliant?

TL;DR

• Jira’s HIPAA Compatibility: As standard, Jira does not comply with HIPAA standards for safeguarding Protected Health Information (PHI).
• Jira HIPAA Configuration: Jira settings can be configured to bring the service into compliance with HIPAA.
• Jira Business Associate Agreement (BAA): Atlassian will sign a BAA with HIPAA covered entities, including healthcare organizations.
• Storing PHI in Jira: Presents significant data leak risks. Jira settings must be configured correctly, and employees must be trained on the proper handling of sensitive PHI.
• Potential for PHI Leakage: Due to Jira being used as a collaborative project management tool, there is a significant potential for data leaks. This ever-present risk underscores the importance of utilizing additional data loss prevention (DLP) solutions.
• Effective DLP for Jira: Strac’s Jira DLP allows organizations to take control of their data security with features such as automatic detection and redaction of sensitive information within Jira issues and comments.

Is Jira HIPAA Compliant?

Jira is a project management tool that is widely used across industries, including healthcare. Given its capabilities in managing tasks, projects, and sensitive data, it's critical for healthcare organizations to determine whether Jira is compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). 

The first point to note is that as standard, Jira does not comply with HIPAA standards for the safeguarding of Protected Health Information (PHI). 

However, Jira is configurable to bring its use into compliance with HIPAA. To comply with HIPAA standards, Jira customers must be subscribed to an Enterprise Plan, set up a specific configuration for their Atlassian account, and sign a BAA with Atlassian.

Will Atlassian Sign a BAA Agreement for Jira?

To comply with HIPAA, third-party providers of software must have a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) in place with all healthcare organizations that are classed as HIPAA-covered entities.

Yes — Atlassian does offer the option to sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). This agreement is crucial as it confirms Atlassian's commitment to meet HIPAA requirements and protect PHI. The BAA covers only the specified Atlassian products that have been deemed HIPAA compliant.

However, signing the BAA does not necessarily ensure your organization’s compliance with HIPAA. Healthcare organizations must also ensure their use of Jira remains compliant, at all times.

Can You Store PHI or Patient Data in Jira?

Storing PHI in Jira is possible, but doing so presents certain risks. 

In 2023, Atlassian announced that Jira could be configured to be HIPAA compliant. This development means that healthcare organizations can store and manage PHI within Jira, provided they follow Atlassian’s guidelines. 

As well as following the Atlassian guidelines, organizations can mitigate the risk of data leaks by ensuring all staff are trained to properly handle sensitive data. Improper handling of protected information within Jira can open your organization up to significant legal and regulatory risks.

Can PHI or Patient Data be Leaked from Jira?

Considering Jira’s use as a collaborative project management tool, there is great potential for non-compliant handling of sensitive data. 

Despite the security mechanisms and specific configuration, there is always a risk of data leaks on Jira due to mishandling or user error. It’s crucial that, at a minimum, organizations implement strict access controls across their Jira plan. All third-party applications integrated with Jira must also be configured to run in a HIPAA-compliant manner to prevent unauthorized access.

There are various sources of harmful data leaks, from misconfigured security settings, to accidental/user error or malicious cyber attacks. For these reasons, many organizations opt for additional security mechanisms that ensure full compliance, at all times.

How Can Strac Prevent Data Leaks from Jira?

Strac Jira DLP is a comprehensive data leak prevention solution that safeguards protected health information in Jira. 

Jira DLP automatically detects sensitive messages and files present in Jira issues and comments, and then redacts or allows for manual removal from Jira.

Strac Jira DLP ensures your use of Jira remains secure and fully compliant at all times. 

Here's how:

• Regulatory Compliance: Strac's DLP solutions guarantee compliance with a range of regulatory standards.
• Instantaneous Email Redactions: Strac's DLP quickly identifies and addresses Jira data vulnerabilities in real-time.
• Comprehensive Audit Overviews: Strac simplifies audit logs, documenting every Jira operation thoroughly for transparent governance.
• Effortless Integration: Easily integrate Strac with Jira for enhanced and consistent data protection.
• Specialized Protection Across the Board: Tailored DLP solutions fortify your unique Jira environment, boosting data security.
• AI Integration: Strac extends beyond typical SaaS, Cloud, and Endpoint security by integrating with AI platforms like ChatGPT, Google Bard, and Microsoft Copilot. This integration improves security for AI or LLM applications and their data. Learn more in Strac's developer documentation.
• Pioneering Data Security Intel: Keep up-to-date with Strac’s cutting-edge data security intelligence, identifying emerging threats and vulnerabilities in Jira.
• Detailed Control & Configuration: Tailor your Jira security settings with ease. Explore Strac’s catalog of sensitive data elements.
• API Capabilities: Strac provides developers with APIs for detecting and redacting sensitive information. Access Strac’s API Docs.

Strac ensures ongoing compliance with HIPAA standards. See our guide to HIPAA Compliance for more details.

Book a free 30-minute demo to learn more.