Real time HL7 Receiver Security Questions (Ipsec VPN )

Question

I have a server setup with Mirth connect to implement an Epic healthcare system integration with real time HL7, using one of our static ip addresses. Our contact advised us to use a VPN for secure transmission. I have never worked with VPN's, not my forte. I have been reading for hours and i have seen hl7 techs talk about using an IPSec VPN using L2PT (layer 2 tunneling protocol). My confusion, dont VPN's change your ip address? How would messages be received by my box if EPIC is setup to send to my static ip / port? If someone could throw me a link, give me a basic rundown of what i would need to setup / services i need to purchase i would be grateful. Thanks.

Answer 1

A VPN will not change your IP address. Instead, it creates an additional network layer that rides on your existing ethernet or wireless connection. Lifting my experience with Hamachi VPN and Mirth connect to transmit data in remote sites to a data warehouse, I suggest doing this.Create a new network on the Hamachi portal, configure Hamachi VPN on the EPIC server(the HL7 receiver) and on all clusters of your HL7 sources and join them to the created network. Further details regarding getting started are at the link Hamachi Guide . Once, the HL7 sources and the box can see one another, you will be able to proceed with your data processing like a usual TCP operation.