AWS has expanded its HIPAA compliance program to include AWS Direct Connect as a HIPAA Eligible Service. With the addition of Direct Connect, if you have an executed Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with AWS you can now transfer large amounts of data, including Protected Health Information (PHI), into and out of AWS in a cost-effective manner designed for your security. AWS Direct Connect offers several benefits for customers: it lowers bandwidth costs out of AWS (which is valuable for applications that have bulk data transfer requirements), it offers more consistent network performance over Internet-based connections for applications that require real-time data feeds, and it provides an alternative means to connect to the AWS cloud for customers who may have security or compliance policies that prevent VPN connectivity to the cloud.

