According to Global Markets Insights Inc., healthcare cloud computing will be worth $55 billion by 2025.
Considering scalability and storage as age-old expectations, today’s healthcare organizations are increasingly turning to cloud technology for its impressive features such as collaboration, accessibility, efficiency and security, to name a few.
In fact, the benefits of cloud computing in healthcare have increased, as it is aligned with the segment’s compliance rules, such as the General Data Protection Law (LGPD), in addition to providing personalized and remote patient care.
Basically, Cloud Computing is an on-demand delivery of computing resources, such as data storage, servers, databases, network resources, applications, over the Internet by a service provider.
This means that instead of having to invest in the on-site equipment, train special personnel and then deal with maintenance, organizations leave it to cloud providers to take care of it.
Cloud computing in healthcare seen as driving digital transformation
What makes the cloud especially attractive today is its security. Compared to on-premise infrastructure, the cloud is considered a more secure option.
According to a report by McAfee, 52% of organizations have better security in the cloud than in on-premises IT environments. While Gartner predicts that in the event of a security problem, 95% of them will be the fault of the customer. This also makes it the safest choice.
With all that the cloud has to offer, it’s no surprise that it’s at the forefront of digital transformation. And the global Covid pandemic has further accelerated customer demand for cloud computing services.
By the end of 2019, many tech experts were already betting on the cloud to lead tech trends in the year ahead. But no one could have predicted back then how impactful this would become in 2020.
As in many other market segments, the application of cloud computing in healthcare is driving positive change in a number of ways.
Whether to reduce costs and be able to focus on mission-critical activities by opting for off-site infrastructure or to take advantage of highly flexible and customizable services by leveraging storage and Cloud Computing capabilities.
The application of cloud computing can help optimize hospitals and other healthcare institutions by improving the coordination of patient care. But this is just one of the many benefits of integrating cloud services in the healthcare sector.
1. Cloud collaboration
Sharing facilitates collaboration. With cloud computing, the process of sharing data has become much easier and simpler.
As health information must remain confidential, with the cloud, data can be shared securely between all relevant health stakeholders such as doctors, nurses and caregivers, also in real time.
In addition to sharing, they can also remotely access reports and medical records anytime, anywhere.
Cloud Computing has also facilitated remote care, quick updates on health developments and patients’ conditions, which makes it a perfect companion for healthcare professionals.
2. Security and data protection with cloud computing
Health data needs to remain confidential. The abundant information held by this domain makes it a prime point of attraction for cybercriminals, resulting in security and data breaches.
Cloud infrastructure ensures security as it has specific security tools that can inform you about suspicious attempts.
Also, because the cloud acts as a data repository, cloud service providers are extremely cautious about complying with privacy standards like HIPAA and LGPD.
These service providers resort to different protection mechanisms such as firewall, encryption, etc. which makes it the most secure and reliable option for health data related needs.
3. Cost
The cloud can hold a huge amount of information at minimal cost. Cloud computing works on pay-as-you-go and subscription model, which indicates that you only have to pay for the services you are using.
By shifting IT budgets from Capex to Opex, cloud technology can greatly reduce internal infrastructure and other operational costs. Ultimately, it makes it even possible for smaller hospitals on a tight budget to adopt a cloud-based model.
4. Speed
Speed is an important criterion before making decisions on the selection of any technology. Cloud-based tools can update and upgrade your resources at a commendable pace with minimal intervention, and you can also get real-time updates of all relevant information.
The benefits of cloud computing in healthcare include unparalleled speed and faster access to information, which can overcome the obstacles that industry stakeholders and patients are encountering. Cloud technology has also changed the scope of clinical research, making it easier to manage clinical trials and share knowledge.
5. Scalability and Flexibility
Healthcare organizations operate in a dynamic environment. The cloud facilitates technologies used in healthcare, such as electronic medical records, mobile apps, patient portals, IoT-enabled devices, big data analytics. It provides uncomplicated scalability and flexibility, which in turn improves the final decision-making process.
Along with 24/7 availability, healthcare providers need to dramatically scale data storage and network requirements in line with service demands.
Cloud technology can increase or decrease these storage requirements as needed by healthcare professionals.
Cloud computing still has a long way to go in the healthcare sector. Their combination with innovative technologies such as big data analytics, artificial intelligence and the internet of medical things improves efficiency and opens up several avenues to simplify the delivery of healthcare services.
It increases resource availability, interoperability and reduces costs. With so many benefits there is no reason not to go down the Cloud Computing route.
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