Australian businesses in the healthcare industry must comply with multiple privacy and patient data protection laws. They include regulations like the Privacy Act 1988, the My Health Records Act, and state-level laws like South Australia’s Health Care Act 2008.

While protecting patient data is an ongoing responsibility, healthcare organisations also need the right data sharing and collaboration tools to provide quality care. Learn how the AWS team at WOLK can help you transition to cloud-based patient data management on Amazon Web Services (AWS), keeping your caregiving business agile, efficient, and legally compliant. 

Why Patient Data Security and Collaboration Are a Challenge

Many hospitals, clinics, and other caregiving facilities in Australia rely on outdated technology, putting patient information at risk. A 2024 study conducted by SOTI revealed that 53% of healthcare organisations in the country use outdated and legacy IT systems.

Examples include aging devices, on-site servers, and outdated software, exposing facilities to cyberattacks and data loss.

IT devices within these facilities are also frequently isolated or part of disjointed networks. They create collaboration and teamwork issues, such as accidentally duplicated data, mishandled records, and frequent double-handling.

How the AWS Secure Modern Workplace Solves These Issues

Migrating to a modern cloud-based workplace like Amazon Web Services (AWS) equips healthcare organisations to protect patient data while keeping it accessible to caregiving staff.

• Compliant data protection solutions. AWS is certified by the Information Security Registered Assessors Program (IRAP), meaning its storage and data processing solutions meet Australian data privacy requirements. Services like Amazon S3 and Key Management Service (KMS) let Australian caregiving businesses store patient records in Australia-based data centres, encrypt sensitive information, and implement strict access controls.

• Teamwork with data security. With AWS WorkSpaces and AWS Client VPN, all caregivers can access records and hospital data securely from any location. The built-in user permissions system, multi-factor authentication, and central monitoring allow staff members to log in easily while keeping their accounts secure.

• Improved collaboration. Collaboration on an AWS workspace is possible thanks to Amazon WorkDocs and Chime. These tools allow doctors, nurses, and other authorised staff to share sensitive files and records, work on the same documents simultaneously, and hold video conferences through secure channels.

• Automatic backups. AWS services like AWS Elastic Disaster Recovery (AWS DRS) and AWS Backup help prevent data loss and facilitate restoring operations after a breach or another disaster event. Amazon S3 also supports versioning, making it possible to restore and protect multiple versions of the same patient records.

Work With an AWS Expert Today

The AWS specialists at WOLK are ready to assist Australia’s hospitals and caregiving facilities. Let us help you make your organisation more secure and efficient. Contact us to discuss your data security and compliance requirements.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) lets Australian organisations work securely from anywhere, on any device. Local AWS servers—available since 2012—also support compliance with Australian data privacy laws.

But moving to AWS isn’t just about security. It can also help your business run more efficiently, improve productivity, and reduce costs. Learn how an AWS migration works and how WOLK can support your business every step of the way.

How Migrating to AWS Increases Productivity

When set up using the AWS Well-Architected Framework, your cloud environment can run faster and respond more easily to change than a traditional on-premises setup. WOLK’s AWS team can guide you through the migration process so your organisation can take advantage of:

• Faster infrastructure development. With AWS, buying or maintaining physical servers on-site is unnecessary. Tools like AWS CloudFormation let you build your infrastructure as code, and Elastic Beanstalk handles app deployment automatically. Your team can scale up or down quickly, without the delays of traditional setups.

• Better collaboration. AWS WorkSpaces gives your team access to cloud-based desktops they can use from anywhere, on almost any device. With AppStream 2.0, you can stream apps directly to users—no local installs needed—so everyone stays connected and productive, no matter where they work.

• More productive dev team. The right cloud environment can give your developers the agility they need to build and maintain software more efficiently. Services like AWS Lambda allow developers to run code without on-premises servers, whereas AWS CodePipeline lets them automate testing, deployments, and new feature updates.

Why an AWS Migration Can Save Your Business Money

AWS is designed to reduce the overall cost of managing your IT systems while maintaining strong security and performance. With the right setup and support, your organisation can save money on:

• Usage costs. AWS uses a pay-as-you-go pricing scheme, meaning you only spend on the computing resources your organisation needs. WOLK’s AWS team can help you find more ways to save by implementing the right services, choosing a compute savings plan, and configuring your environment for cost optimization.

• Server expenditures. Amazon EC2 and S3 services let you launch and work from virtual, cloud-based servers. You don’t need to invest in physical servers or premises with enough space to host them.

• Energy expenses. Running services from AWS data centres in Sydney and Melbourne eliminates the need to invest in climate-controlled server rooms.

• Backup costs. Disaster recovery and archival storage services like AWS Backup and AWS Glacier keep your backup data safe for a fraction of the cost of a physical backup solution.

Reach Out to WOLK’s AWS Specialists Today

At WOLK, our Melbourne-based team has helped other businesses complete their transition to the cloud since 2017. Contact our AWS team and let us help you make your business more agile, competitive, and cost-efficient.

More Australian businesses are moving to the cloud, and by 2025, over half will run their workloads on platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS).

If you’re planning a move to the cloud, WOLK’s AWS specialists can help. Learn about the three key phases of migrating to a secure, modern workplace on AWS, and how each step improves your infrastructure, data security, and operations.

Assessment Phase: Determining Your Current IT Needs

An AWS expert will start by assessing your current IT setup and operational needs—identifying what’s working, what’s not, and how your organisation could benefit from moving to the cloud. This assessment usually covers:

• Workload analysis. Using tools like the AWS Application Discovery Service, we map out all your applications, devices, users, and software dependencies so nothing gets missed.

• Security analysis. This step examines how well your business data is protected by identifying risks or weaknesses and comparing your security setup with AWS Best Practices for Security, Identity, and Compliance.

• Business case development. This involves weighing the costs and benefits of moving to a secure, modern workplace with AWS. It includes building a basic migration plan, estimating the total cost of ownership, and predicting potential returns over time. 

Mobilisation Phase: Setting the Foundation

Once you’ve reviewed the assessment and decided to move ahead, your AWS partner helps lay the groundwork. This stage gives your organization the tools, access, and structure needed to successfully move to the cloud. 

Here’s what comes next:

• Building a secure workplace. Services like AWS Control Tower and AWS Organisations equip your business to create and configure a secure environment.

• Setting up automation tools. Track what’s happening, detect and address incidents, and prove compliance with services like AWS Systems Manager and AWS CloudTrail.

• Create a security landing zone. An AWS specialist will help you configure and test a safe landing zone for your data and applications with AWS Virtual Private Cloud.

Migration Phase: Moving Your Workloads

Once your virtual environment is fully configured and tested for safety, you can move on to the migration phase and complete your transition to the cloud:

• Moving your data. Transfer your business data, applications, and user environment into relevant AWS services through the AWS Migration Hub.

• Modernising your security. Upgrade your current security tools using cloud-based options. For example, traditional desktop VPN software can be replaced with AWS Client VPN to better support remote access.

• Monitoring for threats. After completing the migration, continuous monitoring tools like Amazon GuardDuty provide additional security against data breaches or policy violations, keeping your workplace safe from data loss.

Simpler and More Secure Workplaces With AWS

The AWS team at WOLK has the experience to make your organisation’s migration process simpler, quicker, and more secure. We follow the methodologies outlined in the AWS Migration Acceleration Program to minimise delays and bring your business to the cloud in a matter of months. 

Reach out today to discuss your migration needs.

ISO 27001 and SOC 2 are essential information security standards for businesses like yours that rely on Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). If you handle sensitive data, customer information, or personally identifiable information (PII) in the cloud, achieving compliance isn’t just a recommendation — it’s critical for building and maintaining client trust.

Trusted cloud providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS) can simplify and accelerate your path to certification. Discover how migrating to AWS can support your ISO 27001 and SOC 2 compliance goals — and how experts like WOLK can guide you every step of the way.

AWS Pre-Certified Infrastructure

Migrating your business data to Amazon Web Services (AWS) means using a platform renowned for its commitment to data security. With globally recognised certifications, AWS ensures its hardware and services meet the highest standards for protecting sensitive information.

Through the AWS Compliance Program, AWS adheres to a wide range of security frameworks, simplifying audits and providing a secure foundation for your data. Fully certified for ISO 27001 and SOC 2, among others, AWS enables your organisation to easily and confidently meet compliance requirements. 

AWS Shared Responsibility: Your Part of the Compliance Process

While AWS hardware and connectivity comply with numerous security frameworks, your business data is only as safe as your own data security practices. To fully complete your migration to AWS, your organisation must understand and adhere to the Shared Responsibility principles.

Amazon Web Services guarantees security and compliance of the hardware, infrastructure, and services needed to run them—security of the cloud. Your organisation is responsible for ensuring compliance with security frameworks like ISO 27001 and SOC 2—security in the cloud. It includes:

• All data you store on AWS hardware, including encryption protocols for data at rest and in transit
• Your applications, software, and identity and access management credentials
• The operating systems and network settings you configure on AWS services

How an Assisted AWS Migration Can Save You Time

Achieving ISO 27001 and SOC 2 compliance on your own can take up to 18 months of work, most of which will be spent setting up infrastructure, implementing data security controls, and documenting all processes. 

Migrating to AWS with the help of an expert like WOLK can cut this process to as short as three months. On top of AWS infrastructure being pre-certified, AWS specialists can help you navigate security services like AWS IAM, CloudTrail, and GuardDuty to implement all necessary data security to achieve compliance.

Let WOLK Help With Compliance

Ready to simplify your compliance journey? WOLK’s AWS experts can make your transition to the cloud seamless and secure. Contact us today to start your secure AWS migration and achieve compliance faster.

Service Organisation Control (SOC) compliance is necessary for any business that handles sensitive data, like financial records or healthcare data, through Amazon Web Services (AWS). 

Australian firms may need a SOC audit from an accredited organisation to ensure compliance and maintain the highest level of data protection. Learn how an AWS specialist like WOLK can help you prepare for a SOC audit and ensure the safe handling and storage of your most sensitive data.

The Five Trust Services Criteria

The versions of SOC that work best with AWS—SOC 2 and SOC 3—are based on five key principles known as the Five Trust Services Criteria:

• Security. Protecting the data from unauthorised access, such as data breaches, misuse, or destruction.

• Availability. Monitoring the systems hosting the data to ensure their continued availability to authorised users and clients.

• Processing integrity. Ensuring the systems processing the sensitive data produce complete, valid, and accurate outputs, preventing errors or unintended modifications as much as possible.

• Confidentiality. Protecting sensitive data or the confidential information it contains from restricted access or disclosure, such as proprietary data or a client’s personal information.

• Privacy. Collecting, using, disclosing, retaining, and disposing of data in compliance with all relevant privacy legislation and rules, such as the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).

To comply with either version of SOC, you must meet the Security criteria. Depending on your industry or business sector, you might also need to follow some or all of the other four trust services criteria.

Achieving SOC Compliance on AWS

Amazon handles compliance at the infrastructure level, meaning compliance is only guaranteed for the hardware and networking connections on which your data resides. Your organisation is responsible for security and compliance at all other levels: software, data, applications, and user access rights under the Shared Responsibility Model.

Businesses using AWS to manage sensitive data can tap into specific resources to help prepare for an audit and simplify the compliance process.

• AWS Artifact. This resource allows your organisation to view the AWS SOC Reports and other audit documentation, such as ISO 27001. You can show copies of these reports to reduce your audit burden and demonstrate the infrastructure’s compliance.

• AWS CloudTrail. This tool provides logging and auditing of all AWS accounts and activity in your AWS environment, such as user access or API calls. They are necessary for Security and Processing Integrity compliance.

• AWS Config. This service monitors and records all configuration changes in your AWS environment, such as alterations to a security group, helping with Security and Availability compliance.

• AWS KMS. Key Management Service (KMS) is a commonly used AWS service that lets organisations create and enforce strong data encryption and key management standards, which can help with Confidentiality and Privacy compliance.

Let WOLK Help You Prepare for a SOC Audit

Cloud computing and AWS experts like WOLK can help assess your needs and prepare you for a SOC audit. We handle everything from broad Well-Architected Reviews to gap assessments and specialized tasks like compliance monitoring and security checks. Every business is different—reach out to our team to learn how we can support yours.

Many Australian organisations rely on cloud-based services like Amazon Web Services (AWS) to store and manage sensitive business data. If you’re considering moving your business operations to the cloud, it’s essential to understand and follow top security and audit frameworks.

One widely recognised standard is System and Organization Controls 2 (SOC 2), an internationally acknowledged framework initially developed in the United States. Learn about the best practices for SOC compliance and how the AWS experts at WOLK can help you navigate them.

The Main Objectives of SOC Compliance

SOC 2 covers five principles called Trust Services Criteria (TSC), which outline its main benefits, including:

• Security. Keeping sensitive data safe from unauthorised access at rest, when accessed, transferred, or deleted.

• Availability. Ensuring your organisation’s data resources are always accessible by maximising uptime and implementing data backup and disaster recovery measures.

• Processing integrity. Implementing measures to verify sensitive business data is complete, accurate, valid, and processed correctly.

• Confidentiality. Verifying that confidential business information, such as intellectual property or financial information, is protected through access controls and user privilege systems.

• Privacy. Protecting personal information, as defined in the Privacy Act 1988, from breaches, unauthorized access, or damage, such as healthcare information

Organisations using AWS benefit from Amazon’s Shared Responsibility Model, which ensures that AWS infrastructure and core software meet SOC compliance standards. However, businesses must also ensure that their data, applications, and resources hosted on AWS servers comply with SOC requirements.

SOC Compliance on AWS: Best Practices

AWS offers organisations a variety of tools and measures to help implement and maintain SOC compliance. Here are some key practices to follow:

• Enforce the principle of least privilege. One of the core aspects of data security is that each user or team member has only the permissions necessary to perform their tasks. AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM) allows you to create roles with clearly defined data access rights, serving as the first line of defence against unauthorised access to sensitive business information.

• Use data encryption protocols. AWS Key Management Services (KMS), CloudHSM, and server-side encryption protocols can help your organisation maintain SOC compliance. They protect your data when stored on the cloud and in transit, limiting the risk of sensitive data being exposed to the public internet.

• Maintain visibility in your environment. AWS CloudTrail and CloudWatch provide your organisation with logs, metrics, event viewers, and API calls. They give you a full view of your AWS environment, allowing you to detect and address potential security breaches on time.

Contact WOLK For Guidance with SOC Compliance 

Move your organisation to the cloud confidently with WOLK’s AWS team. Our experts can assess your business needs and guide you through creating a secure and SOC-compliant AWS environment. Contact us today to start your migration process.

Migrating your organisation’s operations and business data to the cloud has many security and regulatory benefits, especially with a trusted provider like Amazon Web Services (AWS). 

AWS hardware and infrastructure fully comply with ISO 27001, providing your data a layer of security against tampering, unauthorised access, and unexpected loss. It also helps maintain compliance with Australia’s main data privacy and protection laws, such as the Privacy Act 1988. 

Partner with the AWS experts at WOLK and learn strategies for keeping your organisation’s data safe and compliant with all relevant industry regulations.

Risk Assessment and Security Audits

Under the AWS Shared Responsibility Model, both AWS and your organisation are responsible for keeping data hosted on the cloud safe and compliant with regulatory needs. AWS’s share of the responsibility extends to its hardware, infrastructure, and core software. Your business must implement all necessary security measures and controls within that environment.

WOLK can conduct a risk assessment and perform audits to ensure all of the following meet your data security needs:

• Identifying security threats. We will use all available tools, such as AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), AWS Security Hub, and AWS Config, to monitor your cloud environment’s security. We can identify security gaps, potential threats to cloud-stored data, and compliance issues.

• Usage of data encryption. Our team can check whether your cloud environment efficiently uses tools like AWS Key Management Service (KMS). Data at rest and in transit should be encrypted with secure and ISO 27001-compliant protocols like AES-256.

If configuration discrepancies or gaps are identified, our team can help you make all necessary changes to strengthen security and protect your sensitive business data.

Third-Party Assurance and Certifications

WOLK is an AWS Advanced Consulting Partner and a specialist of the AWS Well-Architected framework. Our team has the resources to help you implement the best practices in data protection, including providing the following:

• Incident response preparation. We can help you navigate AWS disaster response tools and implement a plan that meets ISO 27001 A.16 incident management requirements.

• Continuous improvement principle. We can implement a plan to help your business continuously monitor its cloud environment. This plan gives you the means to ensure its continued safety and compliance with the latest versions of ISO 27001.

• Audit readiness. WOLK can prepare your organisation for an ISO 27001 audit and evidence-gathering process, including implementing an Information Security Management System (ISMS).

Implement and Maintain ISO 27001 Compliance With WOLK

Since 2017, WOLK has supported Australian organisations in securing their data and adhering to regulatory standards. Contact our team today to discuss your cloud security needs.

As part of its commitment to data security, Amazon Web Services (AWS) complies with ISO 27001, a globally recognised framework for managing information security. This compliance is crucial for Australian businesses moving to cloud-based services, particularly those dealing with sensitive information like personal, financial, or medical data. Learn how ISO 27001 supports cloud migration and how an AWS expert like WOLK can help protect your data in the cloud.

Understanding AWS ISO 27001 Compliance

ISO 27001, also known as ISO/IEC 27001, is an information security standard recognized worldwide. It provides organisations with a framework to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and continued availability of sensitive data. The framework is built around three core principles:

• Risk management. ISO 27001 offers guidelines for identifying, assessing, and reducing information security risks. Organisations that comply with these standards can effectively manage and minimise potential security threats.

• Access control. ISO 27001 recommends implementing strong access management controls to ensure organisation members only have access to the data they need.

• Continuous monitoring. ISO 27001 outlines best practices for monitoring systems to detect potential intrusions, prevent unauthorised access, and ensure compliance with the latest security protocols.

You benefit from their commitment to ISO 27001 compliance when you use Amazon Web Services. Independent third-party auditors regularly certify AWS, and many services, like Amazon S3, EC2, and AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), are certified under this standard.

The Role of ISO 27001 in Cloud Migration

Using cloud services with proper security practices is a great way to protect data and ensure client privacy. However, migrating to the cloud can introduce security risks, especially when transferring data.

Improper or non-secure transfer processes can expose data to loss, theft, or access by unauthorised parties. To minimize these risks, ISO 27001 recommends implementing access controls, data backup solutions, and encryption. 

The framework also includes best practices for ongoing risk and compliance assessments. For example, it includes protocols to ensure the data migration does not violate local and international data protection laws.

Benefits of AWS ISO 27001 Compliance for Australian Organisations

Following ISO 27001 principles and using compliant services reduces risks during the cloud migration process and offers the following benefits:

• Reduced operational risks. AWS ISO 27001 compliance offers Australian companies a systematic approach to identifying, assessing, and addressing data security risks.

• Enhanced security posture. Following ISO 27001 gives organisations a strong, proactive approach to data protection. It covers threat detection, continuous monitoring, encryption, incident response, and disaster recovery plans.

• Adherence to Australian law. AWS’s ISO 27001 certification helps ensure compliance with Australian data protection laws, including the Privacy Act 1988.

Discover How WOLK Optimizes Your AWS Infrastructure

Set your organisation up for success and transition into the cloud smoothly by partnering with WOLK. Our cloud experts have the resources to guide you through the cloud migration process, from AWS service guidance to data transfer. Contact our team today to get started with your firm’s cloud migration.

Elevating Healthcare Infrastructure: The Impact of AWS Well-Architected Reviews

The Australian government’s commitment to improving My Health Record drives healthcare providers across the country to upgrade their infrastructure. Providers must securely manage increasingly large volumes of sensitive patient data while complying with Australian law.

The Well-Architected Framework by Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides a scalable, reliable data management system. Learn how WOLK, an AWS specialist, can use the framework to modernise your healthcare facility’s infrastructure while keeping patient data secure and maintaining performance.

Challenges in Australian Healthcare Infrastructure

Healthcare providers in Australia have to protect patient rights and manage sensitive health records responsibly, all while delivering fast and efficient services. This creates several challenges:

• Compliance. All organisations in Australia that handle personal information, including healthcare providers, must comply with the Privacy Act 1988. The Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) are a set of strictly enforced guidelines governing how data can be collected, used, or disclosed.

• Data management. With the growth of telehealth and digital records, hospitals and clinics in Australia now manage large amounts of sensitive digital information. Healthcare providers must ensure this data is protected from loss, theft, or misuse to safeguard patient rights.

• Disruption risk. Caregiving facilities in Australia must comply with Australian law and also be ready to do so efficiently with minimal disruptions. This requires infrastructure that can easily scale and adapt to the organisation’s changing needs.

Key Pillars of AWS Well-Architected Framework

The AWS Well-Architected Framework is a set of best practices for managing data infrastructure, built on six pillars: Operational Excellence, Security, Reliability, Performance Efficiency, Cost Optimisation, and Sustainability.

Following the principles in each allows a healthcare provider to build efficient, secure, and scalable cloud-based systems.

• Security. Systems that adhere to the Well-Architected Framework’s recommendations encrypt data at rest and in transit, protecting it from unauthorised access from multiple angles.

• Resilience. Infrastructure that follows the framework can automatically recover from failures by using redundant data centres. Disaster recovery measures ensure quick access restoration, even after events like natural disasters, outages, or cyberattacks.

• Scalability. Using AWS allows a healthcare provider to scale its services up or down based on current demand, keeping the organisation flexible.

Mitigating Risks Through AWS Well-Architected Reviews

AWS experts like WOLK can perform AWS Well-Architected Reviews to review your cloud infrastructure. Regular reviews offer the following benefits:

• Strengthen data safety. Our AWS experts will identify any vulnerabilities or security weaknesses in your systems and then implement patches or strengthening methods.

• Compliance checks. An AWS review will also ensure your system’s continued compliance with the Privacy Act, APPs, and all applicable local laws.

• Continued service. Our AWS specialists can help you find and implement convenient solutions to automate service continuity, such as automatically shifting traffic to healthy servers.

Optimize Your Healthcare Infrastructure With WOLK

The AWS team at WOLK can help your hospital, clinic, or healthcare facility with its cloud infrastructure. Contact our team today and learn how we can elevate your data management capabilities.