Despite the many promising features of cloud computing (agility, scalability, etc.), approaching this technology is not an easy task, and there are many factors to consider. In a new report, “Cloud Computing in the Healthcare Environment”, the Falls Church, Va.-based CSC identifies and demystifies commonly-heard claims about cloud computing, such as Cloud computing will save money. The reality is that savings will depend on how much an organization has already virtualized and the current utilization of resources for each current application.
Other commonly-heard claims include:
• “Performance in the cloud is as good, if not better.” This hinges on whether a given cloud is a public vs. private cloud, and on-premise vs. off-premise. Latency and uptime are critical factors in overall performance.
• “Clouds are secure.” If you are considering a public cloud, be aware that your data could be spread across time zones – and possibly across continents – opening up a whole new set of potential issues for organizations dealing with privacy laws that vary by jurisdiction.
In addition to discussing the truth behind commonly-heard claims, CSC describes key steps that healthcare organizations should take in order to make the most of what the cloud has to offer:
• Understand your options and the related risks: Understanding the business drivers causing you to look into Cloud strategy is paramount to establishing a baseline in which to start.
• Build comfort with the cloud model by starting with quick victories: Migrating applications to the cloud can take some adjustment so in order to instill confidence and manage the learning curve, start with relatively easy, low-risk items.
