AWS Bedrock fits with HIPAA rules, but you must set it up right and follow specific steps. If your job deals with Protected Health Info (PHI), having a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with AWS is key. Bedrock is part of this deal, but you need to make sure your settings meet HIPAA rules. Small errors can cause big fines and loss of trust. Here's a simple guide:
- BAA Basics: AWS keeps the base secure; you look after data, who gets in, and settings.
- Key Compliance Steps:
- Only use HIPAA-eligible AWS services.
- Keep Bedrock use in approved areas (like US East, US West).
- Lock data with AES-256 (when still) and TLS 1.2+ (when moving).
- Make private VPCs and lock down network setups.
- Turn on CloudTrail and CloudWatch to watch close without showing PHI.
- Data Keeping: Store PHI for short times and clean logs now and then.
- IAM Roles: Give small rights and keep tabs on who gets in.
Begin small with a test in a HIPAA-ok place before going big. Always keep a close watch and update to stay safe and in line with rules.
Understanding the BAA
What is a BAA and why do you need it?
A Business Associate Agreement (BAA) is a must-have deal under HIPAA for any third party that takes care of Protected Health Information (PHI). This deal makes sure that your cloud host follows the rules set by the government to keep patient data safe. If you don't have a signed BAA, using AWS to work with, keep, or send PHI is against HIPAA rules.
Is AWS Bedrock covered under the BAA?
Yes, AWS Bedrock is part of the usual AWS HIPAA Business Associate Agreement. AWS signs this deal with clients who deal with PHI, and Bedrock is a service that fits under HIPAA rules. While you can use any AWS service in an account set for HIPAA, you should only work with, keep, or send PHI in AWS services that are okay under HIPAA. To get the latest info, look at AWS's official HIPAA Eligible Services Reference page.
Shared duty model for HIPAA rules
Following HIPAA rules is a job shared by you and AWS. AWS handles making the cloud safe, which means taking care of the physical space, protecting the network, and updating the system. Meanwhile, you need to set up safe keys, take care of who can get in through IAM rules, turn on logging and watching, and make plans to keep data as per HIPAA needs. Making sure PHI is safe both when sent and stored is key to protecting this important data.
Offered Jobs and Place Picks
AWS Bedrock Jobs with the BAA
AWS Bedrock's key roles in working with Protected Health Info (PHI) are part of the HIPAA Business Partner Agreement (BAA). This means basic actions like making estimates and checking models meet HIPAA rules. But, if you plan to use extra options like changes or fine-tuning, more checks might be needed for full rule following. To avoid risks, always use PHI inside services and mixes that HIPAA says are okay. Often look at the HIPAA Okay Services Guide to keep up with news and do checks to stay in the know. Before you start, make sure the service you pick is okay and ready in your chosen place.
Picking HIPAA-Okay Places
Not all AWS places can handle HIPAA jobs, so picking the right place is key when starting AWS Bedrock for jobs linked to PHI. Only start in places that HIPAA says are okay and that meet your needs for where data lives, speed, and cost. AWS gives out texts to help you ensure a place is okay and see any cost details. Always go through these texts to be sure your start meets rule needs.
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Stop Keeping Data When Not Needed
To fit with HIPAA's rules on keeping data only as much as needed, we must check and set data keeping rules again. Here, we'll look at how to set these rules and check logs to make sure they meet HIPAA's rules.
Setting Data Keeping Rules
Start by checking your AWS Bedrock settings to make sure that PHI, such as API calls and replies, isn't kept longer than needed. If basic keeping settings are on, change them to fit your group's rules. When using model training tools that deal with PHI, make sure training data is taken care of and removed fast, as HIPAA requires. For how to do this, see the AWS Bedrock guide.
Good Ways to Keep Logs
HIPAA needs close watching of PHI access. AWS CloudTrail is a strong tool for tracking API use and noting key facts like who asked for it, when, and any changes made - all while keeping PHI out. Set CloudTrail to record only needed data for reviews and avoid full call or reply content that might have PHI.
For keeping logs, put them in safe, locked Amazon S3 buckets and keep them for the needed six years. Use S3 rules to clear logs when the time is up.
More so, AWS CloudWatch can watch Bedrock use in real time. CloudWatch stats show important data on call amounts, errors, and delays without sharing sensitive details. Sorting logs into groups - like those for login events, info used in guesses, and changes made - can help handle keeping rules and check who can see what well.
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Simple Tips on Encryption and Key Handling
HIPAA asks for steps to make sure the Protected Health Information (PHI) stays safe. A top way to do this is by using strong encryption on data that is both stored and sent. AWS Bedrock helps make this easy with encryption tools in AWS Key Management Service (KMS). Setting up these tools right is key to keep in line with rules. Let's look at the main points of using encryption and managing keys for HIPAA rules.
Keeping Data Safe for HIPAA
AWS Bedrock keeps data safe by using AES-256 encryption for stored data and TLS 1.2+ for moving data. To add more security for PHI, always use HTTPS for Bedrock links and never keep PHI that is not encrypted.
Choosing Your Key Management Style
Picking the right key management approach is key to boost your encryption plans. AWS offers two main choices:
- AWS-Managed Keys: AWS makes, changes, and looks after these keys. They need little setup and are a good first choice for many health places.
- Customer-Managed Keys: These keys let you have more say in your encryption. You can set your own key change times, make detailed entry plans, and check key use via CloudTrail. But, they need you to manage them yourself. Be careful - mistakes like deleting a customer-managed key can mean losing entry to encrypted data forever.
For places just starting with AWS Bedrock, AWS-managed keys often give enough security and rule-following. As your needs grow, you might want to switch to customer-managed keys for more specific control.
Setting Up IAM for Safe Entry
Encryption alone is not enough - making sure only the right people can get to PHI by setting up IAM right is just as key. Start by making IAM roles that can do only what they need. For AWS-managed keys, rights like bedrock:InvokeModel and bedrock:GetFoundationModel are often enough. For customer-managed keys, add rights like kms:Decrypt and kms:GenerateDataKey. Stay away from wide rights like bedrock:*, which can lead to risks.
To make it even tighter, set rules that limit Bedrock use to certain spots, IP addresses, or times. Adding rules to your IAM plans, like needing certain encryption types or IP ranges, adds a safety layer - even if someone gets to your keys.
Lastly, always check your IAM setups. Use tools like AWS CloudTrail and Access Analyzer to spot not used rights or too wide entry. Since changes to IAM rules take time to start, always try changes in a test place before using them everywhere.
A Smart Plan for Set Up
Using our HIPAA rules, this plan shows you how to put AWS Bedrock in place in a safe and good way. To make sure your setup meets HIPAA rules, you need a strong plan for your network, how you check systems, and how you grow. A careful plan keeps PHI safe and lets you grow from small tries to full use.
VPC and Keeping the Network Alone
Securing HIPAA tasks means you need to keep the network alone. Begin by putting all Bedrock stuff in private subnets to keep PHI away from public nets.
Set VPC ends for AWS Bedrock to keep all data inside your VPC. In each zone you use, make ends for the "bedrock-runtime" and "bedrock" works.
To cut risks, do not use net and NAT ways in areas that touch PHI. If you need to send data out, use tight areas with strong rules to stop mistakes with rules.
Use a least can do rule for your sec groups. Let in only needed HTTPS talks to Bedrock ends and keep source IPs to your app areas. Don't use too wide CIDR blocks - be clear on which parts can talk to Bedrock.
For more safe steps, use network ACLs. Set them to stop all talks by base, then truly let in only needed doors and ways. This stops wrong set-ups that could bring weak spots.
Once your network is alone, you need strong checks to keep to the rules.
Watching Over for Rule Needs
HIPAA tasks need strong watch-over that mixes seeing well with keeping sensitive info safe.
- Turn on CloudTrail to write all Bedrock API talks. Send these logs to a safe S3 box and make sure they don't show PHI.
- Use CloudWatch marks to watch how things are going without risking sensitive info. Keep an eye on marks like
InvocationLatency,InvocationErrors, andThrottledRequests. Set up alarms for odd acts that might point to sec or rule worries. - For app logs, use shaped logs with PHI taken out. Only keep key bits like ID for asks, time stamps, and error types. Use blank spots like
"[REDACTED_PHI]"to keep the log shape but follow rules. - X-Ray traces can sort out slow issues, but be careful not to include PHI. Trace some asks, not all, based on set rules.
Set how long to keep logs as your group needs for rules. Though HIPAA doesn't say how long, use S3 life ways to move old logs to cheaper keeping places to handle long-term keeping well.
How to Grow for Tries vs. Full Use
With a safe base, you can change your build to meet the needs of test tries and full use.
- Trial Set Ups: Begin small in a test zone. Use less backup, AWS keys, and basic CloudWatch checks to keep the first tries cheap.
- Growing Production: When making your production bigger, look at AWS Bedrock's costs and limits. Bedrock's prices go up with token use, so keep a close watch on how much you use to keep costs in check.
Set up in several places that meet HIPAA rules for extra safety and to follow the law. Places like US East (N. Virginia) and US West (Oregon) have full access to Bedrock's tools and meet HIPAA needs. Stay away from places with fewer tool choices unless you must be there for data rules.
When scaling up Bedrock jobs, pay more attention to your app layer than just adding more power. Use Application Load Balancers with checks to split up the work, and make sure your app deals well with limited services.
To cut down on costs, make your prompt engineering better and use response caching to use fewer tokens. Choose smaller tools for easy tasks and save bigger ones for tough jobs.
Lastly, make a plan to keep things running if something goes wrong. Copy data across regions and test often to make sure you always meet HIPAA rules.
What You Need to Know About AWS Bedrock and HIPAA BAA
To make sure AWS Bedrock meets HIPAA rules, you need a good setup from the start and keep an eye on it at all times. Although Amazon Bedrock can work with HIPAA, whether it really does depends on how you set it up and use it.
A key part is the Business Associate Agreement (BAA). It makes clear who does what: AWS keeps the base safe, and you deal with setup, locking data, and who can get in.
Steps to Set Up Right:
- Network Setup: Keep all Bedrock tools in private spots and use VPC spots so they don't touch the public internet.
- Encryption: Keep sensitive info (PHI) safe when stored and sent. Use AES-256 for data you keep and TLS 1.2 (or better) for moving data. Picking AWS-handled keys or your own through KMS, strong locking of data is a must.
- Guardrails: Use AWS Bedrock's tools to cut down risks of PHI getting out. This means setting up content blocks, turning on PII finding and hiding, and stopping touchy info flow.
Watch and Check:
Good watching is key for rule-following. Turn on CloudTrail to see API use and CloudWatch for how things are running. Set logs to skip PHI. Putting in logs that hide some info lets you see what's up without breaking rules.
Rolling It Out:
Start with a small test in a single HIPAA-okay area, like US East (N. Virginia) or US West (Oregon). This lets you make sure everything's set right before going big.
After your BAA is all set and your network is rightly closed off, focus on better setup for Bedrock and up your watching game. Keeping AWS Bedrock in line with HIPAA means always staying sharp on safety and managing how it works.
FAQs
What's different about AWS-managed keys and your own keys, and what does it mean for HIPAA rules?
In AWS, you have two main ways to lock up your data: AWS-managed keys and your own keys (CMKs).
AWS-managed keys are run by AWS. They give basic lock-up but let you do less. For example, you can't change keys on your own, and you can't see much of what is going on. Because you can't do much, they're good for less important stuff where tight security isn't needed.
Your own keys (CMKs), on the other hand, let you take full control. With CMKs, you can set who gets in, pick if you want to change keys by hand or not, and see detailed logs. This control is key for companies that must follow strict rules like HIPAA, which needs close watch over who gets in and careful records.
If your group works with private health info (PHI), CMKs are the better pick. They up the level of safety and record-keeping needed to stick to HIPAA's tough demands.
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