Body
Purpose
The HIPAA Shared Services Pattern defines the approved implementation model for consuming enterprise shared services that support HIPAA workloads.
This pattern establishes how shared services may be used without requiring duplication of common platform capabilities while preserving workload isolation, governance requirements, security controls, and operational supportability.
Use Cases
This pattern applies when:
- Supporting HIPAA landing zones
- Supporting HIPAA subscriptions
- Providing enterprise identity services
- Providing enterprise monitoring services
- Providing governance services
- Providing management services
- Providing automation services
- Supporting regulated workload operations
This pattern does not apply to:
- Services that directly store PHI
- Services that directly process PHI
- Services that provide direct access to PHI
- Unsupported shared service offerings
Design Principles
Service Reuse
Common platform capabilities should be provided through approved enterprise shared services when practical.
Shared services reduce duplication, improve operational consistency, and simplify platform operations.
Workload Isolation
HIPAA workloads remain isolated within approved HIPAA subscriptions and approved workload hosting architectures.
Consumption of shared services does not eliminate workload isolation boundaries.
Least Service Exposure
HIPAA workloads should consume only those shared services necessary to support approved business and operational functions.
Governance Alignment
Shared service usage must follow approved architecture standards, governance controls, and operational processes.
Logical Architecture
HIPAA Workload
↓
HIPAA Subscription
↓
Applications
Databases
Services
Data Products
Integrations
↓
Approved Shared Services
Identity Services
Monitoring Services
Governance Services
Management Services
Automation Services
↓
Enterprise Platform Services
This architecture preserves workload isolation while allowing approved platform capabilities to be consumed centrally.
Shared Service Categories
Identity Services
Approved shared identity services may provide:
- Authentication
- Authorization
- Identity governance
- Privileged access management
- Service identities
Identity services may operate outside the HIPAA workload boundary when approved governance and security controls are maintained.
Monitoring Services
Approved shared monitoring services may provide:
- Operational monitoring
- Security monitoring
- Audit logging
- Reporting
- Alerting
Monitoring services may operate as shared enterprise services supporting multiple HIPAA workloads.
Governance Services
Approved governance services may provide:
- Policy management
- Compliance visibility
- Governance enforcement
- Platform standards implementation
Governance controls may be inherited through approved Management Group structures.
Management Services
Approved management services may provide:
- Operational administration
- Platform management
- Inventory capabilities
- Administrative support
Management services may support HIPAA workloads without operating within individual HIPAA subscriptions.
Automation Services
Approved automation services may provide:
- Platform automation
- Infrastructure deployment
- Operational automation
- Landing zone deployment support
Automation services may operate as centralized enterprise capabilities supporting regulated workloads.
Service Classification Model
Approved Shared Services
Services may operate outside the HIPAA workload boundary when:
- PHI is not stored
- PHI is not processed
- PHI is not exposed
- Governance requirements are satisfied
- Architecture approval exists
HIPAA-Boundary Services
Services that:
- Store PHI
- Process PHI
- Provide direct access to PHI
must remain within approved HIPAA hosting architectures and approved HIPAA deployment patterns.
Connectivity Model
HIPAA workloads may communicate with approved shared services through approved connectivity paths.
Shared service communications should:
- Follow approved networking standards
- Support auditing requirements
- Support monitoring requirements
- Support operational management requirements
Security Model
Shared services supporting HIPAA workloads must:
- Follow approved governance controls
- Support auditability
- Support security investigations
- Support access governance
- Support operational accountability
Security requirements remain applicable regardless of service location relative to the HIPAA workload boundary.
Operational Responsibilities
Platform Team
Responsibilities include:
- Shared service architecture
- Platform operations
- Shared service administration
- Service onboarding
- Platform automation
Security Team
Responsibilities include:
- Shared service review
- Security requirements
- Governance oversight
- Investigation support
Workload Owner
Responsibilities include:
- Service consumption requirements
- Business integration requirements
- Application integration design
- Operational support participation
Automation Pattern
Shared service integration should be implemented through approved platform automation whenever practical.
Automation areas may include:
- Service onboarding
- Identity integration
- Monitoring enrollment
- Governance configuration
- Platform integration
Implementation should align with approved landing zone deployment capabilities.
Reference Architecture Outcomes
A workload implementing this pattern should provide:
- Workload isolation
- Reduced platform duplication
- Centralized platform management
- Centralized identity services
- Centralized monitoring services
- Consistent governance
- Operational sustainability
- Repeatable onboarding