Tag Archives: Cloud Solutions

Considerations For Healthcare in the Cloud

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Healthcare organizations are in the midst of a massive transition, updating decades-old systems to fall into line with compliance and reconsidering the way they manage, store, and exchange data. This mass migration often includes moving infrastructure to the cloud and redoing EHR systems.

Cloud computing is sometimes looked on with suspicion by healthcare professionals, especially after several very public breaches in recent months. However, new HIPAA rules governing cloud services and patient privacy have made it easier for organizations to transition with confidence.

Even with this improved definition and numerous available cloud services, there are pitfalls that may be faced in the transition period, especially as companies learn and grow. I’ve listed some of the considerations that any organization should keep in mind when migrating and looking to gain more agility through the cloud.

Know Your Service

Before committing to migration to AWS, Azure, or another cloud platform, know what these IaaS providers will be giving your organization. Establishing a good service agreement requires an intimate knowledge of your organization’s needs. Consider which applications and functions are the most essential to your cloud services and build out your priorities from there. Finally, keep in mind that your needs may change over time. A periodic update of what matters from your cloud services will keep your business poised to get the most out of the service you are paying for.

Know Your Security

One of the biggest sticking points when transitioning to the cloud in a healthcare environment is security of personal data. It is easy to design a cloud infrastructure that fulfills your needs while also being very secure, but this does take some level of planning beforehand. These cloud providers may very well have specialized compliance plans in place for healthcare organizations, so ask about both your options and how they have served similar groups in the past. They may even have experts able to walk you through the migration process in as safe and expedient of a manner as possible.

Know Your Price

Total cost of ownership (TCO) can be surprisingly high for some subscription-based services, and knowing the financial burden of migrating to the cloud is as valuable as knowing security risks and the like. Design is huge here, and as with my first point, any organization looking to adopt a cloud infrastructure will need to be carefully audited to ensure that there are no excess costs. Scalability is also important, and a good cloud design allows for an organization to add more or dial back as needed.

Know Your Performance

Your network is defined not only by how data is stored, but by how quickly it can be moved and retrieved. Slow networks can be frustrating at best, and in a healthcare environment, can even risk lives. Consider both application structure and the location of the data when designing a cloud environment to maximize performance. Ensure that key applications and workloads receive priority. Fortunately, good architecture is easy to implement into the overall structure of the cloud.

How To Harness the Hybrid Cloud

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Hybrid cloud models have become even more prominent than ever before, with many companies demonstrating a need for both private and public clouds. As with any other IT solution, making a hybrid cloud viable is a question of integration. In this case, seamlessly transitioning between the two cloud models is the primary challenge. However, existing IT systems must often operate in conjunction with the cloud.

There’s no “one size fits all” solution for any business, but many cloud providers are starting to take the hint and adapt their services accordingly. Azure Stack is one of the newest hybrid offerings, intended to bridge the gap between public and private cloud services. Services such as these lower the barrier to entry for hybrid cloud adoption and may be what is necessary for this model to truly become mainstream.

The advantage of the hybrid cloud is flexibility. With private clouds hosting core applications and sensitive functions, companies can then use scalable public clouds as widely as their needs allow. This is the most efficient solution once implemented, but there’s a high level of logistics necessary to make it work. The data centers that provide the infrastructure necessary for the hybrid cloud will need to be customized in order to function properly. Specialized personnel will need to be on-site to test and reassess the service, and cybersecurity is, as always, paramount.

Service is another issue that needs to be addressed when working with a hybrid cloud. With the massive volume of data that needs to be transitioned between the two clouds, a quick response time from providers and high connectivity are necessary for success. Latency problems continue to be one of the largest issues when it comes to hybrid cloud adoption. Going forward, businesses will need to decide whether they can host this infrastructure on-site or outsource to IaaS organizations. It’s an expensive proposition, and one that many companies lack the funds to handle.

Networking between facilities is another challenge that Microsoft has tackled in the interest of improving their services. ExpressRoute is an interlink touted as a low-latency connection, though it is not available to all facilities. And, as a trunk connection, ExpressRoute does experience some latency issues with the last bit of distance that data must travel. Still, it’s the start of a future of trans-facility marketing. In the near future, as more of these connections become available, the hybrid cloud will become more of a practical option. Multiple connections to each facility and more robust data centers are the key to better hybrid offerings.

The idea of a hybrid cloud continues to become more popular as the need for scalability becomes more pronounced for IT departments. Companies such as Microsoft are now scrambling to meet these new needs, but delivering the necessary level of connectivity has proved difficult. Still, it is not impossible to strive for trans-facility networks that allow for better data delivery and provide organizations with the infrastructure that they need.

Cloud Implementation: A Business-Wide Approach

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I’ve written multiple articles about different facets of implementing the cloud, and it’s a worthy topic to continue to discuss. With any office, different challenges in implementation present themselves, and it can be all too easy to write off hurdles as a job for IT and proceed with business as usual.

The fact is, this approach is impractical at best and downright dangerous at worst. The cloud has instituted a revelation in terms of how data is stored and distributed, and it is up to businesses to involve employees in the adoption process. Doing so can confer sizable benefits in the long run; not only will they be more inclined to use the cloud safely, but the knowledge that they gain can lead to better productivity and perhaps even system improvements in the future.

Now, the main point behind cloud implementation is to benefit a business in some way. A formal ROI assessment is necessary when it comes to deciding the extent to which a business adopts the cloud. Implementation must align with business strategy, so it only makes sense to properly educate employees on its usage. After all, a business strategy in any other silo would warrant distributing proper information to employees. Doing so it about transparency as much as it is about practicality.

The cloud is often adopted to streamline common business practices such as marketing, finance, and manufacturing, along with countless others. However, often, employees won’t change much about their daily routines in response to the addition of cloud services. Protocols need to be updated alongside a shift in technology. Innovation in a company only really works if everyone is involved, and it is much easier to support a mass education effort than to individually instruct anybody that may benefit from cloud usage.

Another aspect of the advent of cloud computing is the breakdown of lines between system administration and users. New roles, even among non-IT staff, can help iron out problems and confusion while freeing up more time to focus on improvements and innovation. Consider executing interdisciplinary programs that give certain departments training to better prepare them for upcoming cloud changes. It’ll help streamline implementation and keep your company on the bleeding edge of competition. A great starting point is to identify employees that have a strong understanding of technology and offer to involve them in the adoption process and pass off their newfound knowledge to others in their departments.

But, even with education, cloud adoption initiatives can fall flat if there is no solid platform for employees to use the cloud. Consider skill levels and familiarity with technology when choosing a platform, as you’ll want UI and functionality that is easy to understand among employees of all skill levels.

There’s a shift coming in terms of what the next generation will need to be prepared for when joining the workforce. Given the popularity of the cloud, universities in countries such as India have had the foresight to give students some level of education in its use, making them more valuable to the companies they go on to work for. In companies working to implement this new technology, they would do well to follow this example, updating employee practices along with infrastructure to foster positive change.

Dispelling Common Myths About Cloud Computing

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Cloud computing has truly grown into its skin in terms of its impact on the modern technological landscape. Most major industries now implement and rely on some form of cloud-based storage to improve their efficiency and niche-specific innovation. Still, even with the cloud’s growing maturity and agility, it still remains at the center of several myths stemming mainly from its security, financial constraints, and overall usability.

Here are logical responses to several cloud-based myths.

“The cloud is the end-all/be-all of success”

While cloud computing holds immense potential in terms of “speed-to-market” deliverables, it is not necessarily the only means of finding success in an increasingly data-driven business world. The best rule of thumb is to conduct an analysis of your company’s specific needs, goals, and weaknesses and determine if cloud-based software will stand as an asset to achieving and mending these matters. The reality is that there are several major breakthroughs going on in the business technology sector (virtualization, autonomy), and these innovations may simply serve your company in a more constructive manner.

In short, the cloud is great, but “cloud washing” is not.

“The cloud is unsafe”

A common concern surrounding the cloud stems from its security, and this notion is reasonable given the amount of precious data held within cloud communities. However, much of this skepticism is unfounded, as there have been very few public cloud security breaches since the concept took off as a technological norm.

The cloud is obviously not impenetrable, but its security is much stronger and more consistent than many commentators would lead you to believe.

“The cloud is typically not reflective of a company-wide decision”

Cloud computing is often given the false label of a “CEO-said-so” implementation — in other words it is perceived to be a change imposed on an entire company, regardless of majority interest. In reality, most companies make the switch to the cloud after a long planning and goal mapping process in which employees and executives alike weigh the pros and cons of such a move.

The cloud is almost never the result of a knee-jerk decision — its vast array of uses makes it almost impossible to be handled in such a way.

“Data shared in the cloud cannot be taken back”

Another reasonable, but mostly incorrect cloud-based fear comes from the stakes surrounding data storage. In many of these cases, the skeptic is under the impression that data stored in the cloud is essentially irrevocable. In the past, these beliefs were legitimate, but subsequent advances in data-based technology have given way to easier methods of data migration — both to and from the cloud.

Initial cloud-based data storage can be daunting, but rest assured that your data is far from “locked in.”

What You Need To Know About The Cloud in YOUR Workplace

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Here’s a question for anybody, regardless of industry: do you know if you use the cloud in your day to day activities? Even if you are not an IT specialist, it always pays to be cognizant of the technology at your disposal and the ways that you can use it to be more productive and improve the quality of your work.

Given the recent widespread adoption of cloud technology, it stands to reason that many businesses and industries already make use of the cloud in some capacity. I’d like to take a moment and talk about some of the industries that benefit the most from cloud adoption. If you belong to any of the below and are not aware of the ways in which the cloud can assist you, I encourage you to conduct your own research and push towards your company creating its own plan.

Banking

The banking industry needs the cloud to process massive amounts of data. Given the nature of the data, cloud security is paramount here. As security measures improve for this new technology, expect banks to use it more often. The cloud’s ability to make businesses more agile is ideal. This best serves banks that may have to handle acquisitions and improve outdated software over time.

Education

Education is always in demand. The need for student portals and administrative records is best served through cloud adoption. There are many time consuming processes in the education sector that can be improved or automated through cloud services, and platforms for email or other communications can be facilitated over the cloud. Furthermore, the mobile connectivity that the cloud can provide is necessary for the modern era of students and teachers.

Healthcare

I’ve spoken in the past about the value that the cloud brings healthcare, and would like to reiterate here. The massive quantity of patient records necessitates some level of streamlining and automation, especially when this data is traded across providers. The cloud can help make this process less of a hassle and ultimately provide further security and confidentiality for patients when their information is sent out to others.

Construction

The construction industry is based around logistics, something that cloud providers help improve. Often, with job sites and other projects, it can be difficult for administrators to track the information that they need. The cloud can provide remote and mobile access for these professionals, enabling them to get the information that they need at a moment’s notice. Plus, the financial concerns inherent in construction makes construction professionals a strong candidate for certain management platforms.

Startups

While less an industry and more a type of company, startup companies have the most to gain from adopting the cloud. Unlike established businesses, they don’t have to waste time and capital adapting their existing data infrastructure to the cloud; they can start right away and have the cloud make an impact on organizing their operations. Plus, the scalability of the cloud allows startup owners to adapt to the changing nature of their business.

Conclusion

Every company has something to gain from the cloud, even if only in the form of document sharing. Any savvy business professional should learn the benefits that this new technology can confer. They can stay competitive and evolve for the future.

If you have any questions about how your business can adopt the cloud, contact me through the form on the front page.