Secure and Compliant Cloud Migration Strategies for Healthcare Providers Using Risk-Based Data Classification and Encryption Protocols

Alice Carolina Benedita; Vicente Joao Lourenco

Authors

Alice Carolina Benedita Cloud Security Engineer, Portugal. Author
Vicente Joao Lourenco Cloud Analyst, Portugal. Author

Keywords:

Cloud Migration, Healthcare Data Security, Risk-Based Data Classification, Encryption Protocols, HIPAA Compliance, Health Information Systems

Abstract

Healthcare organizations increasingly migrate to cloud environments to improve scalability, interoperability, and cost efficiency. However, such migration introduces significant security, privacy, and regulatory compliance challenges due to the sensitivity of electronic health records (EHRs). This research paper examines secure and compliant cloud migration strategies for healthcare providers, emphasizing risk-based data classification and encryption protocols.
Through a focused literature review and conceptual analysis, the paper synthesizes best practices, identifies gaps in existing approaches, and proposes a structured migration framework integrating regulatory compliance, encryption mechanisms, and risk assessment. The findings highlight that aligning data sensitivity with encryption strength and governance controls significantly reduces breach risks while maintaining regulatory compliance.

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