Is Google Workspace HIPAA Compliant? What IT Admins Need to Know

If your organization operates in healthcare or deals with protected health information (PHI), you’ve likely asked this question more than once: Is Google Workspace Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant? The short answer is yes - but only under the right conditions.

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Google Workspace offers the tools and features needed to support HIPAA compliance, but it doesn’t come automatically configured for it. The platform includes services like Gmail, Google Drive, Meet, and Calendar that can be used in a HIPAA-compliant way. That said, compliance isn’t just about the software - it’s also about how you configure and manage it.

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In this article, we’ll walk through what HIPAA compliance really involves, how Google Workspace aligns with those requirements, and what specific changes you need to make to bring your environment in line.

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What Does It Mean to Be HIPAA Compliant?

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The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act sets standards for protecting sensitive patient data in the U.S. If your organization collects, stores, transmits, or processes PHI, you must follow these standards.

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HIPAA compliance involves several key elements:

• Privacy Rule – Governs how PHI can be used and disclosed.
• Security Rule – Covers the protection of electronic PHI (ePHI) through administrative, physical, and technical safeguards.
• Breach Notification Rule – Requires notification in case of unauthorized access or exposure.
• Business Associate Agreement (BAA) – A contract that ensures third parties (Google, in our case) handle PHI responsibly.

A visual summary outlining essential HIPAA compliance components, such as patient privacy, secure data storage, access controls, and breach notification protocols.

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Compliance isn’t just about ticking boxes. It requires a combination of technical controls, administrative policies, and staff training. 

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Google Workspace and HIPAA: The Basics

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Google Workspace can be used in a HIPAA-compliant way, but as it was previously mentioned, the platform itself doesn’t guarantee compliance out of the box. Google offers BAA to organizations, and once that agreement is in place, specific services are covered under it.

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The following Google Workspace services are included under the BAA (to see the full list, visit HIPAA Included Functionality):

• Gmail
• Google Calendar
• Google Drive (including Docs, Sheets, and Slides)
• Google Meet
• Google Chat
• Google Keep
• Google Sites

These tools can be used with PHI after everything is properly configured.

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What’s Compliant by Default?

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Some aspects of Google Workspace align with HIPAA requirements right out of the box. These include:

• Encryption at Rest: All data is encrypted using industry-standard protocols when it's stored in Drive and in the Gmail mailbox.
• Encryption in Transit: Data, such as email messages in Gmail and videoconferencing in Meet, only uses encrypted channels for transitions.
• Audit Logging: Google Workspace Admin console provides audit logs for apps like Gmail and Drive, allowing you to track access and activity on PHI-related data.

What Needs to Be Modified or Configured?

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To make your Google Workspace environment HIPAA-ready, you’ll need to go beyond defaults. Below are the main areas that require action.

1. Before using Google Workspace with PHI, you must sign a Business Associate Agreement with Google.  
2. To prevent PHI from being shared externally, disable extensive file-sharing options.
3. To avoid unauthorized access to PHI, ensure implementing access controls, including:
   • Enforce 2FA and strong passwords
   • Limit access to third-party applications
   • Use context-aware access

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to Google Workspace, helping prevent unauthorized access to accounts and sensitive data.

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Is Enterprise Edition Required to be HIPAA Compliant?

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Many HIPAA compliance guides reference security features like Context-Aware Access, Advanced DLP, and Security Center. These are powerful tools that make it easier to enforce HIPAA requirements, but they are only available in Enterprise-tier editions of Google Workspace (like Enterprise Standard or Enterprise Plus).

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This creates a common point of confusion: if these features are needed for compliance, how can organizations using Business Plus or other non-Enterprise tiers be compliant?

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The truth is - it is still technically possible to be HIPAA compliant using Google Workspace Business or Education tiers, as long as you:

• Sign the BAA with Google
• Only use the covered services for PHI
• Enforce your own technical, physical, and administrative security practices

Without Enterprise features, some protections must be implemented through stricter administrative policies, manual reviews, and third-party tools (e.g., identity governance platforms and external DLP solutions). The table below lists some issues you may encounter if you don’t have access to enterprise features

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So, while Standard tiers don’t inherently violate HIPAA, you're required to compensate for the missing controls through stricter policies, training, or third-party tooling.

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Insight by
Gal Nakash
Cofounder & CPO at Reco

Gal is the Cofounder & CPO of Reco. Gal is a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. He is a tech enthusiast, with a background of Security Researcher and Hacker. Gal has led teams in multiple cybersecurity areas with an expertise in the human element.

Expert Insight: Secure Google Workspace Without Overlooking the Gaps

Leverage built-in protections, third-party tools, and staff training to maintain HIPAA compliance and secure sensitive health information across your Google Workspace environment.

• Review Third-Party App Access: Apps connected via OAuth are not covered under Google's BAA. Establish a formal vetting process before granting access to restricted or sensitive data.
• Built-In AI Tools Are HIPAA-Ready: AI features native to Google Workspace (like Smart Compose, Duet AI, etc.) are included in the BAA, making them safe for handling PHI with clients.
• Train Staff on PHI Handling: Tools aren't enough—staff must know what qualifies as PHI, how to manage it, and how to avoid threats like phishing or accidental exposure. Use Google's security center or your LMS to deliver and track mandatory training.
• Add Compliance Tools Like Reco: Complement Workspace's native tools with platforms like Reco to continuously monitor configuration and ensure alignment with HIPAA and other industry standards.

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Conclusion

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Google Workspace can absolutely be used in a HIPAA-compliant environment - but it’s not plug-and-play. It requires a deliberate review of settings, user behaviors, and policies.

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While Enterprise editions provide tools that make enforcement and auditing easier, Business and Education editions can still meet HIPAA requirements with the right administrative diligence and supplemental tools.

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For IT admins, the goal should be clear: make sure your configurations reflect the expectations of the HIPAA Security Rule. If you're using Google Workspace to handle PHI, you're responsible for ensuring that only the right users can access it, the data is protected, and the organization is prepared to respond to any unauthorized activity.

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If you’re not sure where your Workspace setup stands today, consider doing a gap assessment, or using a third-party governance tool to help you identify any weaknesses.