Failover mechanisms provide a backup system when a primary server fails that offers the assurance of continuous service. In HIPAA compliant email it helps prevent disruptions while maintaining the secure sharing and storage of patient information.
A failover mechanism is a system designed for the continuity of services or operations when the primary system or component fails. A study published in Sensors MDPI provides that failover simply “...means seamlessly and automatically switching to prepared backup servers while the primary system is down.”
It acts as a backup plan, automatically transferring functions to a standby system to maintain operation with minimal or no disruption. The mechanisms are common in infrastructure such as data centers, network services, and cloud computing environments where downtime can have severe consequences.
In an email system, failover mechanisms ensure uninterrupted communication. These mechanisms work by switching email traffic to a backup server or email service provider when the primary server encounters an issue, like an outage or hardware failure. When the primary email server goes down, the failover system activates automatically.
While the first step is using a secure, reputable HIPAA compliant email service provider like Paubox, failover mechanisms can be useful considerations when constructing an email policy.
These best practices include:
HIPAA compliant backup provider
Real time synchronization of PHI
Data integrity checks
Failback testing
Zero downtime encryption key management
A secondary platform that stores data or runs operations when the primary system fails.
An encryption key is a digital code used to scramble and unscramble data to protect it.
Any health related information that can identify an individual such as medical records or insurance details, is protected under HIPAA.