Cloud computing is still a relatively new information technology concept, but it’s already beginning to be relevant in health care – because it utilizes economies of scale to provide massive computing power and storage to users who sign up for the service. Here are five ways cloud competing is transforming health care.
Easy access – Cloud-based service providers have pushed open formats – any one can access and edit the code or format – instead of closed formats – only qualified experts can access and edit the code or format -, which makes adopting a cloud system as a replacement for a localized one easy and cheap. This is mainly because most cloud services can support multiple formats, which means you likely won’t have to convert documents, images, files or folders.
Resiliency – Economies of scale allow cloud-based service providers to build large redundant data centers that emphasize backup and uptime for lower costs. This means your data will be available as long as you have an Internet connection.
Privacy – The level of security the cloud offers is much higher than what you see in a local IT department. Security in a hospital’s server room may be as simple as keeping the door locked, usually with a lock that can be picked or hacked with relative ease. Data on many cloud servers is an encrypted blob of bits that most cloud providers don’t have access to.
Innovation – Cloud-based service providers can improve their services rapidly, cheaply and with minimal interruption to service. The upside to this is that it frees up local IT staff for value-added tasks.
Mobility – By storing all computing power and data and in the cloud, health-care providers can provide staff access to that information anywhere, anytime – and that’s a boon for mobile applications.
If you’re interested in learning more about how cloud services can help make your organization more efficient, please contact us.
