home / skills / jeremylongshore / claude-code-plugins-plus-skills / deepgram-data-handling

This skill helps you implement secure audio storage, retention, and privacy controls for Deepgram transcriptions across the data lifecycle.

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---
name: deepgram-data-handling
description: |
  Implement audio data handling best practices for Deepgram integrations.
  Use when managing audio file storage, implementing data retention policies,
  or ensuring GDPR/HIPAA compliance for transcription data.
  Trigger with phrases like "deepgram data", "audio storage", "transcription data",
  "deepgram GDPR", "deepgram HIPAA", "deepgram privacy".
allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Bash(kubectl:*), Bash(curl:*)
version: 1.0.0
license: MIT
author: Jeremy Longshore <[email protected]>
---

# Deepgram Data Handling

## Overview
Best practices for handling audio data and transcriptions with Deepgram, including storage, retention, and compliance.

## Prerequisites
- Understanding of data protection regulations
- Cloud storage configured
- Encryption capabilities
- Data retention policies defined

## Data Lifecycle

```
Upload → Process → Store → Retain → Archive → Delete
  ↓         ↓        ↓        ↓         ↓        ↓
Encrypt  Transcribe  Save   Review   Compress  Secure
                                               Delete
```

## Compliance Considerations

| Regulation | Key Requirements |
|------------|------------------|
| GDPR | Data minimization, right to deletion, consent |
| HIPAA | PHI protection, access controls, audit logs |
| SOC 2 | Security controls, availability, confidentiality |
| PCI DSS | Data encryption, access logging |

## Instructions

### Step 1: Implement Secure Upload
Handle audio uploads with encryption and validation.

### Step 2: Configure Data Processing
Process transcriptions with privacy controls.

### Step 3: Set Up Storage
Store data with appropriate encryption and access controls.

### Step 4: Implement Retention
Automate data retention and deletion policies.

## Examples

### Secure Upload Handler
```typescript
// services/secure-upload.ts
import crypto from 'crypto';
import { S3Client, PutObjectCommand } from '@aws-sdk/client-s3';
import { KMSClient, GenerateDataKeyCommand } from '@aws-sdk/client-kms';

interface UploadOptions {
  userId: string;
  purpose: string;
  retentionDays: number;
  encrypted: boolean;
}

export class SecureAudioUpload {
  private s3: S3Client;
  private kms: KMSClient;
  private bucket: string;
  private kmsKeyId: string;

  constructor() {
    this.s3 = new S3Client({});
    this.kms = new KMSClient({});
    this.bucket = process.env.AUDIO_BUCKET!;
    this.kmsKeyId = process.env.KMS_KEY_ID!;
  }

  async upload(
    audioBuffer: Buffer,
    options: UploadOptions
  ): Promise<{ audioId: string; url: string }> {
    const audioId = crypto.randomUUID();

    // Validate audio
    if (!this.isValidAudio(audioBuffer)) {
      throw new Error('Invalid audio format');
    }

    // Generate encryption key
    let encryptedData = audioBuffer;
    let dataKey: string | undefined;

    if (options.encrypted) {
      const { encrypted, key } = await this.encryptData(audioBuffer);
      encryptedData = encrypted;
      dataKey = key;
    }

    // Calculate content hash
    const hash = crypto.createHash('sha256').update(audioBuffer).digest('hex');

    // Upload to S3
    const key = `audio/${options.userId}/${audioId}`;
    const expirationDate = new Date();
    expirationDate.setDate(expirationDate.getDate() + options.retentionDays);

    await this.s3.send(new PutObjectCommand({
      Bucket: this.bucket,
      Key: key,
      Body: encryptedData,
      ContentType: 'audio/wav',
      Metadata: {
        'user-id': options.userId,
        'purpose': options.purpose,
        'content-hash': hash,
        'encrypted': String(options.encrypted),
        'data-key': dataKey || '',
        'expiration-date': expirationDate.toISOString(),
      },
      ServerSideEncryption: 'aws:kms',
      SSEKMSKeyId: this.kmsKeyId,
    }));

    return {
      audioId,
      url: `s3://${this.bucket}/${key}`,
    };
  }

  private isValidAudio(buffer: Buffer): boolean {
    // Check for common audio file headers
    const headers = {
      wav: Buffer.from([0x52, 0x49, 0x46, 0x46]), // RIFF
      mp3: Buffer.from([0xFF, 0xFB]),
      flac: Buffer.from([0x66, 0x4C, 0x61, 0x43]), // fLaC
    };

    return Object.values(headers).some(header =>
      buffer.slice(0, header.length).equals(header)
    );
  }

  private async encryptData(data: Buffer): Promise<{
    encrypted: Buffer;
    key: string;
  }> {
    // Generate data key using KMS
    const { Plaintext, CiphertextBlob } = await this.kms.send(
      new GenerateDataKeyCommand({
        KeyId: this.kmsKeyId,
        KeySpec: 'AES_256',
      })
    );

    // Encrypt data with AES-256-GCM
    const iv = crypto.randomBytes(12);
    const cipher = crypto.createCipheriv('aes-256-gcm', Plaintext!, iv);

    const encrypted = Buffer.concat([
      iv,
      cipher.update(data),
      cipher.final(),
      cipher.getAuthTag(),
    ]);

    return {
      encrypted,
      key: CiphertextBlob!.toString('base64'),
    };
  }
}
```

### PII Redaction
```typescript
// services/pii-redaction.ts
interface RedactionRule {
  name: string;
  pattern: RegExp;
  replacement: string;
}

const redactionRules: RedactionRule[] = [
  {
    name: 'ssn',
    pattern: /\b\d{3}[-\s]?\d{2}[-\s]?\d{4}\b/g,
    replacement: '[SSN REDACTED]',
  },
  {
    name: 'credit_card',
    pattern: /\b\d{4}[-\s]?\d{4}[-\s]?\d{4}[-\s]?\d{4}\b/g,
    replacement: '[CARD REDACTED]',
  },
  {
    name: 'phone',
    pattern: /\b(\+1[-\s]?)?\(?\d{3}\)?[-\s]?\d{3}[-\s]?\d{4}\b/g,
    replacement: '[PHONE REDACTED]',
  },
  {
    name: 'email',
    pattern: /\b[A-Za-z0-9._%+-]+@[A-Za-z0-9.-]+\.[A-Z|a-z]{2,}\b/g,
    replacement: '[EMAIL REDACTED]',
  },
  {
    name: 'date_of_birth',
    pattern: /\b(0?[1-9]|1[0-2])[\/\-](0?[1-9]|[12]\d|3[01])[\/\-](19|20)\d{2}\b/g,
    replacement: '[DOB REDACTED]',
  },
];

export function redactPII(transcript: string): {
  redacted: string;
  redactions: Array<{ type: string; count: number }>;
} {
  let redacted = transcript;
  const redactions: Array<{ type: string; count: number }> = [];

  for (const rule of redactionRules) {
    const matches = redacted.match(rule.pattern);
    if (matches && matches.length > 0) {
      redactions.push({ type: rule.name, count: matches.length });
      redacted = redacted.replace(rule.pattern, rule.replacement);
    }
  }

  return { redacted, redactions };
}

// Deepgram has built-in redaction feature
export async function transcribeWithRedaction(
  client: DeepgramClient,
  audioUrl: string
): Promise<{ transcript: string; redactedTranscript: string }> {
  const { result, error } = await client.listen.prerecorded.transcribeUrl(
    { url: audioUrl },
    {
      model: 'nova-2',
      redact: ['pci', 'ssn', 'numbers'], // Deepgram's built-in redaction
      smart_format: true,
    }
  );

  if (error) throw error;

  const transcript = result.results.channels[0].alternatives[0].transcript;
  const { redacted } = redactPII(transcript);

  return { transcript, redactedTranscript: redacted };
}
```

### Data Retention Policy
```typescript
// services/retention.ts
import { S3Client, ListObjectsV2Command, DeleteObjectsCommand } from '@aws-sdk/client-s3';
import { db } from './database';
import { logger } from './logger';

interface RetentionPolicy {
  name: string;
  retentionDays: number;
  dataTypes: string[];
  complianceReasons: string[];
}

const policies: RetentionPolicy[] = [
  {
    name: 'standard',
    retentionDays: 30,
    dataTypes: ['audio', 'transcript'],
    complianceReasons: ['business'],
  },
  {
    name: 'legal_hold',
    retentionDays: 365 * 7, // 7 years
    dataTypes: ['audio', 'transcript', 'metadata'],
    complianceReasons: ['legal', 'regulatory'],
  },
  {
    name: 'hipaa',
    retentionDays: 365 * 6, // 6 years
    dataTypes: ['audio', 'transcript', 'access_logs'],
    complianceReasons: ['hipaa'],
  },
];

export class RetentionManager {
  private s3: S3Client;
  private bucket: string;

  constructor() {
    this.s3 = new S3Client({});
    this.bucket = process.env.AUDIO_BUCKET!;
  }

  async enforceRetention(): Promise<{
    checked: number;
    deleted: number;
    retained: number;
  }> {
    const stats = { checked: 0, deleted: 0, retained: 0 };
    const now = new Date();

    // Get all audio files
    const { Contents } = await this.s3.send(new ListObjectsV2Command({
      Bucket: this.bucket,
      Prefix: 'audio/',
    }));

    if (!Contents) return stats;

    const toDelete: string[] = [];

    for (const object of Contents) {
      stats.checked++;

      if (!object.Key) continue;

      // Get metadata to determine policy
      const metadata = await this.getMetadata(object.Key);
      const policy = this.getApplicablePolicy(metadata);
      const expirationDate = new Date(metadata.uploadDate);
      expirationDate.setDate(expirationDate.getDate() + policy.retentionDays);

      if (now > expirationDate && !metadata.legalHold) {
        toDelete.push(object.Key);
        stats.deleted++;
      } else {
        stats.retained++;
      }
    }

    // Batch delete
    if (toDelete.length > 0) {
      await this.deleteObjects(toDelete);
    }

    logger.info('Retention enforcement completed', stats);
    return stats;
  }

  private getApplicablePolicy(metadata: Record<string, string>): RetentionPolicy {
    // Determine which policy applies
    if (metadata.legalHold === 'true') {
      return policies.find(p => p.name === 'legal_hold')!;
    }
    if (metadata.hipaa === 'true') {
      return policies.find(p => p.name === 'hipaa')!;
    }
    return policies.find(p => p.name === 'standard')!;
  }

  private async deleteObjects(keys: string[]): Promise<void> {
    const batches = this.chunk(keys, 1000);

    for (const batch of batches) {
      await this.s3.send(new DeleteObjectsCommand({
        Bucket: this.bucket,
        Delete: {
          Objects: batch.map(Key => ({ Key })),
        },
      }));

      // Also delete from database
      await db.transcripts.deleteMany({
        audioKey: { $in: batch },
      });
    }
  }

  private chunk<T>(arr: T[], size: number): T[][] {
    return Array.from({ length: Math.ceil(arr.length / size) }, (_, i) =>
      arr.slice(i * size, i * size + size)
    );
  }

  private async getMetadata(key: string): Promise<Record<string, string>> {
    // Implementation to get object metadata
    return {};
  }
}
```

### GDPR Right to Deletion
```typescript
// services/gdpr.ts
import { db } from './database';
import { S3Client, DeleteObjectCommand, ListObjectsV2Command } from '@aws-sdk/client-s3';
import { logger } from './logger';

interface DeletionRequest {
  userId: string;
  requestedAt: Date;
  dataTypes: string[];
  verificationToken: string;
}

export class GDPRCompliance {
  private s3: S3Client;

  constructor() {
    this.s3 = new S3Client({});
  }

  async processRightToErasure(userId: string): Promise<{
    success: boolean;
    deletedItems: {
      transcripts: number;
      audioFiles: number;
      metadata: number;
    };
  }> {
    const deletedItems = {
      transcripts: 0,
      audioFiles: 0,
      metadata: 0,
    };

    try {
      // 1. Delete transcripts from database
      const transcriptResult = await db.transcripts.deleteMany({
        userId,
      });
      deletedItems.transcripts = transcriptResult.deletedCount;

      // 2. Delete audio files from S3
      const audioFiles = await this.listUserAudioFiles(userId);
      for (const file of audioFiles) {
        await this.s3.send(new DeleteObjectCommand({
          Bucket: process.env.AUDIO_BUCKET!,
          Key: file,
        }));
        deletedItems.audioFiles++;
      }

      // 3. Delete user metadata
      const metadataResult = await db.userMetadata.deleteMany({
        userId,
      });
      deletedItems.metadata = metadataResult.deletedCount;

      // 4. Log deletion for audit
      await this.logDeletion(userId, deletedItems);

      logger.info('GDPR erasure completed', { userId, deletedItems });

      return { success: true, deletedItems };
    } catch (error) {
      logger.error('GDPR erasure failed', {
        userId,
        error: error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown',
      });
      throw error;
    }
  }

  async exportUserData(userId: string): Promise<Buffer> {
    // Collect all user data
    const userData = {
      transcripts: await db.transcripts.find({ userId }).toArray(),
      metadata: await db.userMetadata.findOne({ userId }),
      usageHistory: await db.usage.find({ userId }).toArray(),
      exportedAt: new Date().toISOString(),
    };

    // Return as JSON
    return Buffer.from(JSON.stringify(userData, null, 2));
  }

  private async listUserAudioFiles(userId: string): Promise<string[]> {
    const { Contents } = await this.s3.send(new ListObjectsV2Command({
      Bucket: process.env.AUDIO_BUCKET!,
      Prefix: `audio/${userId}/`,
    }));

    return Contents?.map(c => c.Key!).filter(Boolean) || [];
  }

  private async logDeletion(
    userId: string,
    deletedItems: Record<string, number>
  ): Promise<void> {
    await db.auditLog.insertOne({
      action: 'GDPR_ERASURE',
      userId,
      deletedItems,
      timestamp: new Date(),
    });
  }
}
```

### Audit Logging
```typescript
// services/audit-log.ts
interface AuditEvent {
  timestamp: Date;
  action: string;
  userId: string;
  resourceType: 'audio' | 'transcript' | 'user';
  resourceId: string;
  details: Record<string, unknown>;
  ipAddress?: string;
  userAgent?: string;
}

export class AuditLogger {
  async log(event: Omit<AuditEvent, 'timestamp'>): Promise<void> {
    const fullEvent: AuditEvent = {
      ...event,
      timestamp: new Date(),
    };

    // Store in tamper-evident log
    await db.auditLog.insertOne({
      ...fullEvent,
      hash: this.computeHash(fullEvent),
    });

    // Also send to external SIEM if configured
    if (process.env.SIEM_ENDPOINT) {
      await this.sendToSIEM(fullEvent);
    }
  }

  private computeHash(event: AuditEvent): string {
    return crypto
      .createHash('sha256')
      .update(JSON.stringify(event))
      .digest('hex');
  }

  private async sendToSIEM(event: AuditEvent): Promise<void> {
    await fetch(process.env.SIEM_ENDPOINT!, {
      method: 'POST',
      headers: { 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
      body: JSON.stringify(event),
    });
  }
}
```

## Resources
- [Deepgram Security](https://deepgram.com/security)
- [GDPR Compliance Guide](https://developers.deepgram.com/docs/gdpr)
- [HIPAA Compliance](https://deepgram.com/hipaa)

## Next Steps
Proceed to `deepgram-enterprise-rbac` for access control configuration.

Overview

This skill implements audio data handling best practices for Deepgram integrations, focusing on secure uploads, redaction, retention, and compliance. It guides developers on encryption, access controls, audit logging, GDPR right-to-deletion, and automated retention enforcement. The goal is to reduce privacy risk and simplify regulatory requirements for transcription workflows.

How this skill works

The skill inspects and standardizes the audio data lifecycle: upload, process, store, retain, archive, and delete. It enforces secure upload validation, server-side encryption, transcript redaction (PII removal), and metadata-driven retention policies. It also integrates audit logging and supports GDPR/HIPAA workflows such as erasure requests and data exports.

When to use it

  • When storing audio files or transcriptions from Deepgram
  • When implementing data retention or automatic deletion policies
  • When meeting GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, or PCI compliance requirements
  • When adding PII redaction to transcription workflows
  • When you need tamper-evident audit logs for access and deletion events

Best practices

  • Validate audio file headers and formats before processing to avoid malformed uploads
  • Encrypt audio at rest and in transit; use KMS-managed keys for data keys and server-side encryption
  • Apply automated retention policies with metadata-driven expiration and support legal holds
  • Use automated PII redaction and Deepgram built-in redaction alongside rule-based filters for edge cases
  • Log all access, deletion, and export events to a tamper-evident audit store and optionally forward to a SIEM
  • Provide a verified user workflow for GDPR right-to-erasure and a secure export mechanism for data requests

Example use cases

  • Secure audio upload API that encrypts content, stores content-hash and expiration metadata, and returns S3 references
  • Transcription pipeline that calls Deepgram with redact options then runs custom regex redaction for sensitive patterns
  • Retention manager that scans storage, applies policies (standard, legal_hold, hipaa), and batches deletes while updating DB records
  • GDPR erasure endpoint that deletes transcripts, audio files, and user metadata and writes an audit entry
  • Audit logger that computes event hashes and forwards events to an external SIEM for monitoring

FAQ

How do I ensure deleted audio is unrecoverable?

Use KMS-based envelope encryption, delete both the encrypted object and associated KMS data keys or ensure keys are rotated and destroyed per your cloud provider policy.

Should I rely only on Deepgram’s redaction?

Deepgram’s redaction is helpful but combine it with rule-based redaction and post-processing to capture local patterns and higher confidence for regulatory needs.

How do I prove compliance for audits?

Maintain tamper-evident audit logs with cryptographic hashes, retain retention-policy records, and exportable proof-of-deletion artifacts tied to user requests.