Compliance Considerations for Jira Backup and Restore: HIPAA or SOC 2

Jira is a widely used tool across many industries, addresses many use cases, and is not limited to just software development but is a customizable tool for collaboration among agile teams. Should your company's Jira data be lost for whatever reason:

• Accidental deletion
• Malicious Insider
• Malicious Outsider
• Hardware or Software Failure (in case of on-premises deployment)

Losing your company's intellectual property and customers' data would be terrible.

"Jira administrators have a responsibility to ensure that their backup and restore processes meet the stringent security and privacy requirements set forth by HIPAA and SOC 2." 

In this article, we'll outline some of the security requirements and processes that will help ensure your backup data is secure and does not compromise the privacy of confidential information you may be backing up.

HIPPA & SOC 2 Overview

HIPPA

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a U.S. federal law enacted in 1996. HIPAA sets standards for protecting the privacy and security of individuals' health information, commonly referred to as "protected health information" (PHI). The primary goal of HIPAA is to ensure that health information is kept confidential and secure and is only disclosed as necessary for healthcare operations, treatment, and payment.

HIPAA requires covered entities (e.g., healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses) and their business associates (e.g., contractors and vendors) to implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PHI. Covered entities and business associates must also comply with HIPAA's privacy rule, which regulates the use and disclosure of PHI.

HIPAA violations can result in significant financial penalties and harm healthcare organizations' reputations. Compliance with HIPAA is therefore crucial for organizations handling PHI.

SOC 2

SOC stands for System and Organization Controls. It refers to the internal controls, processes, and procedures an organization has to ensure the security, confidentiality, and privacy of information, systems, and data.

Several SOC reports, including SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3, each focus on different aspects of an organization's security and control systems. SOC 2, for example, focuses on the security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy of an organization's information systems. SOC 3 is a simplified version of a SOC 2 report, providing a high-level overview of an organization's security and control systems.

SOC 2 defines a comprehensive framework for evaluating and reporting on the controls that are in place related to the security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy of a service organization's information system. The goal of SOC 2 is to provide service organizations with standards to follow to meet customer security and privacy requirements.

SOC 2 assessments are performed by independent third-party auditors based on the AICPA's (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) Trust Services Criteria. Service organizations use SOC 2 reports to demonstrate their commitment to security and privacy to customers, regulators, and other stakeholders.

Both HIPAA and SOC 2 regulations are concerned with how service providers protect the sensitive data they handle for their customers. Generally, these regulations require service providers to take reasonable steps to protect customer data's confidentiality, integrity, and availability. 

They may also require service providers to undergo independent audits from time to time so their customers can assess whether they meet these requirements.

Why are Backups Important for Compliance?

One of the primary goals of compliance and auditing is to guarantee the safety and security of your business and its ability to maintain an acceptable degree of service continuity for its customers at all times, including in the event of a disaster. 

The following are some key reasons why backing up data is important for compliance:

• Data protection laws: Many countries have data protection laws, such as the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), that require organizations to protect personal data and restore it during data loss.
• Industry regulations: Some industries, such as finance and healthcare, have specific regulations that require organizations to implement backup and disaster recovery plans to ensure the availability of critical data and systems.
• Internal policies: Organizations often have internal policies and procedures that require regular backups to be performed and data to be stored in secure, off-site locations.
• Business continuity: Backups play a crucial role in maintaining business continuity and ensuring that an organization can recover from disruptions and continue to operate.

Thus, backing up data is important for compliance as it helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, ensure data protection, and maintain business operations during data loss or interruption.

HIPAA Regulation Requirements for Data Backups

HIPAA sets standards for protecting sensitive patient health information. The following are some key regulations related to data backups under HIPAA:

• Data backup plans should be in place to ensure the security and confidentiality of electronically protected health information (ePHI).
• Backups should be encrypted and stored in secure locations, separate from primary data storage locations.
• Data backups should be tested regularly to ensure they can be recovered in the event of a data loss.
• HIPAA requires healthcare organizations to implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect ePHI.
• Backups should be stored off-site and made available for immediate restoration in an emergency.
• Regular audits and risk assessments should be performed to identify vulnerabilities and implement safeguards.
• Access to backup data should be restricted and monitored.
• Backup data should be disposed of securely when no longer needed.

SOC 2 Regulations for Data Backup

SOC 2 is a set of standards for assessing the security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy of a service organization's information system. The following are some key considerations for data backups under SOC 2:

• Data backup procedures should align with SOC 2's security principles.
• Data backups should be stored in secure, off-site locations to protect against data loss.
• Backup data should be encrypted to maintain confidentiality and privacy.
• Backup data should be regularly tested to ensure it can be recovered and restored in the event of an interruption.
• Access to backup data should be restricted and monitored to maintain security and prevent unauthorized access.
• Documentation of backup procedures, schedules, and testing results should be kept to demonstrate compliance with SOC 2.
• Regular audits and risk assessments should be performed to identify vulnerabilities and implement safeguards.
• Backup data should be disposed of securely when no longer needed to maintain privacy and security.

Best practices for Jira Data Backup and Restore

Here are some best practices for backing up your Jira data:

• Regular backups: Schedule regular backups to be taken and stored in a secure, off-site location. It is recommended to take backups daily or weekly, depending on the amount of data and the frequency of updates.
• Test backups: Regularly test your backups to ensure they are complete and can be successfully restored. This helps identify any issues with the backup process and ensures that the data can be recovered during an interruption.
• Secure storage: Store backups in a secure, off-site location, such as a cloud-based storage service or a remote server. This helps protect against data loss due to physical incidents like fire or theft.
• Document procedures: Document the backup and restore procedures, including the schedule, the data that is backed up, and the steps required to restore the data. This helps ensure that the process is consistent and can be easily followed during an interruption.
• User access: Limit access to the backups to only those who require it, and ensure that access is controlled through authentication and authorization mechanisms.

For non-cloud Jira users

• Update Jira regularly: Regularly update Jira to ensure compatibility with new releases and to benefit from any bug fixes or security updates. 
• Consider disaster recovery: Consider implementing a disaster recovery plan to ensure that the Jira system can be quickly restored in the event of a major interruption, such as a data center failure.

By following these best practices, organizations can ensure that their Jira data is backed up regularly, stored securely, and can be quickly restored in the event of an interruption.

Is there a shortcut to be able to implement a backup & restore solution for Jira?

Yes, there is a shortcut for implementing a backup and restore solution for Jira Cloud, unfortunately if you are using Jira Server or Data Center you would have to implement a custom solution which involves replication of the databases as suggested by Atlassian. 

Now in the case of Jira Cloud, you could use Revyz’s app for Jira backup & restore and it helps you simplify your backup & restore processes while addressing some of the key compliance requirements such as daily backups, data stored offsite in a secure location, accessibility of the data etc.. We would recommend having an indepth look through the Revyz product offering page to see if this addresses your needs.