National Data Center Service Provider, CoreLink Data Centers, Completes HIPAA Security Requirements Review Within SSAE 16 Audit

MT. PROSPECT, Ill., March 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- National data center service provider, CoreLink Data Centers, LLC (http://www.corelink.com/), today announced the successful completion of its review of controls and procedures to meet the requirements of the HIPAA Security Rule.  The HIPAA security review was part of the SSAE 16 audit performed on all of CoreLink's colocation facilities. The Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE) No. 16 addresses a service organization's internal controls. Issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts (AICPA), it is considered the authoritative guidance standard for service organizations.

During the SSAE 16 audit, a cross walk was performed to the the security portion of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The HIPAA security rule mandates any entity that electronically receives, stores, processes or transmits electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) must protect and secure that data. The HIPAA security rule identifies required administrative, technical and physical safeguards, some of which apply to the business of a data center.

The independent auditors' findings confirmed the strength of CoreLink's multiple layers of physical security and monitoring systems, as well as its stringent access protocols to safeguard customer IT hardware. All of CoreLink's data center personnel receive periodic HIPAA security training to ensure the safeguarding of customer ePHI.

"The push for electronic health records and increased enforcement of HIPAA is creating data management challenges for healthcare IT executives," noted Nav Ranajee, Director of CoreLink's Healthcare Vertical. "CoreLink offers cost effective solutions in data hosting, managed services, and disaster recovery while providing our clients with the confidence that our facilities meet the requirements of the HIPAA security rule to protect their data."

The HIPAA security review followed CoreLink's recent completion of a thorough 12-month SSAE 16 audit of internal controls. That audit addressed a full suite of data center service metrics at the company's five data centers, including power, temperature and network availability. The American Institute of Certified Public Accounts SSAE 16 audits also focus on a data center's safety and operational controls, as well as its technical design which map to many of the requirements in the HIPAA Security Rule.

"Our investment in physical security mechanisms and stringent access protocols provides our existing and future healthcare clients with the peace of mind required to focus on their patient care while entrusting the security of their IT infrastructure to CoreLink," Ranajee said.

Contact CoreLink Data Centers for more information about Healthcare IT services, including managed services and enterprise hosting or call 866-435-2375.

About CoreLink:

CoreLink is a leading data center hosting and managed services provider of critical infrastructure services delivered on a "state of the art," robust and environmentally friendly technology platform. By leveraging data centers in Chicago, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Seattle with access to massive and diverse network connectivity, CoreLink delivers small, medium and large enterprise customers and service providers with high quality and uniquely agile, data center services.

CoreLink's focus on aligning customer needs with the proper solution, combined with a relentless focus on service, provides the flexibility and peace of mind all businesses require from a data center provider. In addition, CoreLink also services the healthcare market by delivering HIPAA securedata center solutions to a broad spectrum of healthcare organizations.

For more information, please call 866.435.2375 or visit our website or check out more at CoreLink Data Centers' blog, CoreLink on Facebook and @corelinkdata on Twitter.

SOURCE CoreLink Data Centers