Slack is preparing for a major play in Healthcare

San Francisco-based workplace communication platform Slack filed for its IPO on Friday and underscored the healthcare privacy regulation it will need to clear as it boosts its health play.

Slack noted the importance of holding onto its Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance — which, if breached, could land the company in hot water with steep fines and criminal penalties.

Slack announced that its file upload feature was compliant in February, but its direct messaging and channel communication features between health providers isn’t yet cleared. It’s likely that HIPAA compliance will extend to communication features within months.

Here’s what it means: Healthcare represents a large market opportunity for Slack if it sorts...