HIPAA-Compliant Database Security Controls for Cloud-Based Oracle and PostgreSQL Deployments

Abstract

Ensuring HIPAA-compliant database security in cloud-based Oracle and PostgreSQL deployments is critical for protecting sensitive healthcare data in modern distributed environments. While both platforms provide robust security features, effective compliance requires a structured approach that maps regulatory requirements to specific database configurations. This study presents a systematic framework for implementing key safeguards, including access control, encryption, auditing, and data integrity mechanisms, within cloud deployments. The results demonstrate that both Oracle and PostgreSQL can achieve high levels of compliance and significant risk reduction when properly configured, with differences primarily in implementation complexity rather than capability. The findings also show that security enhancements introduce manageable performance overhead while substantially improving data protection. This work provides practical insights for designing secure, compliant, and scalable database systems for healthcare applications.