When we rolled out Wool’s counselling features, security and privacy were non-negotiable. This tutorial captures the essentials we executed before releasing to our first enterprise client.
1. Map data flows
- Document every step from user login to therapist response.
- Classify message metadata, transcripts, and attachments by sensitivity and retention needs.
2. Establish envelope encryption
- Generate per-conversation keys backed by a hardened key management service.
- Rotate keys automatically and ensure revocation when a participant leaves the conversation.
3. Secure the delivery layer
- Use short-lived tokens for WebSocket connections and enforce device-level attestation where possible.
- Apply abuse monitoring—rate limits, anomaly detection, and alert thresholds tuned with clinical compliance teams.
4. Operationalise compliance
- Automate consent logging and data subject access responses.
- Train support teams with red-team scenarios so they can spot and escalate privacy risks immediately.
Strong encryption is only half the story. Healthcare partners choose platforms that marry technical rigour with empathy and transparent governance.