Securing HAPI FHIR Data in Transit using TLS/SSL

Details

This article is a tutorial focused on implementing security measures for data transmission within HAPI FHIR. First, for the Web Server side (HAPI FHIR), it explains how to enable TLS encryption using an environment variable configuration in a Spring Boot environment, such as setting `SERVER_SSL_ENABLED: true`. This requires preparing a PKCS12 keystore containing the server certificate and private key. Second, for the data persistence layer (PostgreSQL), it details configuring connection options with `ssl=on` and enforcing encrypted connections by setting `PGSSLMODE: require`. This ensures that all communication paths, including access from HAPI FHIR to PostgreSQL, are secure. These settings are provided with practical technical information, such as specific YAML definitions for container environments (e.g., Docker Compose) and OpenSSL commands for keystore generation. The content offers valuable knowledge for ensuring the robust operation of systems handling FHIR data.