Why Sending PHI via Standard File Sharing Is a Risk — and How Bunkor Solves It

In a world where patient data flows constantly between caregivers, clinics, labs, and patients themselves, transferring files is one of the simplest yet most overlooked cybersecurity dangers. Think about it: medical images, test results, treatment notes, and patient forms are all sensitive personal health data (PHI). Under the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), organizations and their partners must protect this information at all times — including during transmission and storage.

Yet far too many practices, clinics, and even individuals still rely on basic tools like email attachments or consumer file‑sharing services like WeTransfer for this purpose. The result? Exposed data, regulatory violations, and potentially massive fines. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

In this article, we’ll walk through:

1. Why standard file sharing services like WeTransfer aren’t HIPAA compliant
2. The key technical and regulatory requirements for sharing PHI
3. How Bunkor offers a secure, compliant way to send even large medical files — with features designed specifically for healthcare and legal professionals

Let’s break this down in a human way — no jargon, no confusion — just clarity on what matters and how you can protect patient data with confidence.

Why Standard File Sharing (Like WeTransfer) Is a Compliance Risk

At first glance, services like WeTransfer seem secure. They encrypt files in transit, provide easy drag‑and‑drop sharing, and allow sending large media files quickly. But here’s the problem: WeTransfer explicitly does not comply with HIPAA, and cannot enter into a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) — a legal contract required under HIPAA when a service handles PHI on behalf of a healthcare provider or business associate.
🔗 WeTransfer does not offer HIPAA compliance or BAAs because it is not bound by U.S. healthcare law — even though it uses encryption and is GDPR‑friendly. The HIPAA Journal+1

That may sound surprising, but it’s critical to understand.

Why this matters

Under HIPAA’s Privacy and Security Rules, any entity that creates, receives, maintains, or transmits PHI for another party must implement safeguards and sign a BAA with the covered entity. Without that agreement, using a service to send PHI — even with encryption — is considered non‑compliant.

So what’s the real risk of using WeTransfer or other consumer tools?

• No BAA – which means no legal accountability for PHI protection
• Lack of audit and access controls – impossible to demonstrate who accessed what
• No enterprise configuration for encryption or identity verification
• No built‑in breach reporting or compliance features

In practical terms, that means a practice that sends test results or X‑rays through these services could be in violation of the HIPAA rules, even if nothing “bad” happens. The HIPAA Journal

What HIPAA Really Requires for Secure File Transfer

HIPAA isn’t a checklist of specific technologies — but it does specify outcomes that technologies must produce:

Essential safeguards for electronic PHI (ePHI)

• Encryption in transit and at rest: Data must be unreadable to unauthorized parties while being sent and stored.
• Access controls: Only authorized users can view or download files.
• Audit logging: Every access, download, and modification is recorded.
• BAAs with service providers: Legal protections and responsibilities between covered entities and vendors.
  Sources on HIPAA file security make it clear that today’s secure file transfer protocols and compliance workflows must satisfy these requirements. censinet.com

Why does this matter? Because standard solutions like email or consumer file services were never built with these features as default business controls. Email doesn’t give you strong access control or a proper audit trail unless you bolt on complex layers — and even then, configuration is heavy, error‑prone, and require significant IT expertise. paubox.com

Sending Very Large Files: A Special Challenge

Medical images like CT scans, MRIs, and X‑rays routinely reach tens of gigabytes. When you need to share them with patients or between providers, the challenge isn’t just security — it’s reliable large file transfer.

Consumer tools might promise “large files up to 20 GB,” but without HIPAA compliance, using them for PHI is prohibited — no matter the size of the upload. In contrast, secure managed file transfer services that are HIPAA‑aware support:

• Large file sizes
• Encryption in transit and at rest
• Audit logs and governance
• Credentialed access and MFA

But many of these enterprise systems are expensive, slow, or require IT staff to manage.

This is where Bunkor fills a real gap.

How Bunkor Makes Secure HIPAA‑Compliant PHI File Sharing Simple

Bunkor was designed from the ground up with secure file transfer in mind, specifically for practices, providers, and partners who need:

• End‑to‑end encryption — All files are encrypted with modern standards so they’re only accessible to authorized parties.
• Compliance‑ready audit trails — Every file transfer, download, and access is logged to support HIPAA audit requirements.
• Audit and access controls — You define exactly who can see or download a file and when.
• BAA support — Bunkor’s legal and technical framework includes the ability to sign a Business Associate Agreement, a fundamental requirement for handling PHI under HIPAA.

With Bunkor you can:
✅ Share large medical files (including images, volumes, and reports)
✅ Ensure encryption at rest and in transit
✅ Provide audit logs that show compliance evidence
✅ Customize secure upload portals for patients or referrals
✅ Eliminate the need for risky email attachments

This isn’t just “secure file sharing” — it’s secure file sharing that meets regulatory requirements and gives peace of mind for providers, administrators, patients, and IT staff alike.

A Human‑Friendly Way to Do It

At the end of the day, what clinicians and administrators want isn’t another piece of software — it’s confidence that sensitive patient data is secure without slowing down their workflows.

Bunkor delivers this by:

• Automating encryption and compliance so users don’t have to guess or configure dozens of settings.
• Providing a modern UI that feels easy, even for non‑technical staff.
• Enabling large file transfers up to 20 GB or more without forcing recipients to wrestle with clunky portals.

This means you can send a patient’s full MRI set, care team notes, and lab results securely — easily meeting both the letter and spirit of HIPAA — without relying on third‑party tools that aren’t designed for healthcare compliance.

Final Thought: Don’t Trade Speed for Security — Demand Both

Healthcare data is not just data. It’s someone’s life, identity, dignity, and future. PHI deserves protection that aligns with both legal requirements and ethical care.

Standard file sharing tools may be convenient — but when it comes to HIPAA and patient privacy, they simply aren’t enough. You need confidence, control, auditability, and compliance.

With Bunkor, you get all that — alongside the flexibility to send even large medical files reliably and securely.‍

Ready to Make File Transfers HIPAA-Compliant?

Don’t let your practice risk a data breach. Discover how Bunkor helps healthcare professionals securely send even the largest files — fast, easy, and fully compliant.

Explore Bunkor for Healthcare

Sources

1. WeTransfer is not HIPAA compliant and won’t enter into a BAA.
   🔗 https://www.hipaajournal.com/is-wetransfer-hipaa-compliant/ The HIPAA Journal
2. HIPAA compliance requires encryption and access controls for PHI transfer.
   🔗 https://www.censinet.com/perspectives/hipaa-compliant-file-sharing-key-features-to-look-for censinet.com
3. Standard email and consumer file sharing are considered insecure for PHI.
   🔗 https://www.paubox.com/blog/hipaa-compliant-email

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