Microsoft embeds HIPAA compliance into Office 365

Microsoft Office 365 will now comply with EU and US privacy standards to address concerns about the security and privacy of healthcare providers’ data. The cloud productivity service will sign the EU’s model clauses and comply with the European Commission’s Data Protection Directive and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This will enable health organisations to confidently use Office 365 to implement communication tools and substantially lower IT operating costs. Microsoft is the first major cloud-based productivity service to be certified under ISO/IEC 27001.