Cloud PACS Are Now Secure Environments
For many years, the healthcare community shunned the cloud due to security issues. However, given the flexibility of cloud PACS, not to mention cost savings, the reluctance to embrace cloud-based technology has taken a drastic turn. However, is there still something to worry about regarding security in the cloud?
Once valued at $1.82 billion, the cloud computing market in healthcare is jumping to $6.79 billion next year, according to a cloud computing report from Transparency Market Research.
Radiologists are excited about the cloud because it offers a more practical and efficient way to share images and reports. It’s also a more cost-friendly alternative to other solutions not based in cloud computing.
Healthcare providers are definitely investing more in electronic health records (EHR) and cloud PACS fit right in with this evolution to the digital world. In fact, many EHRs are using cloud-based networks as their foundation.
Another major reason providers are switching to cloud PACS is because the National Healthcare Information Network (NHIN) requires PACS to share images. The Government Accountability Office says that roughly 75 percent of imaging procedures are performed outside the hospital, which is where most PACS live. Therefore, cloud PACS is going to be a good workaround for meeting the NHIN’s requirement.
There continues to be ongoing threats in this digital age, including breaches and viruses. The majority of healthcare professionals are concerned about security, and they should be. However, when it comes to cloud security, there are steps to take to ensure that you’re operating as safely as possible.
- Have a long-term strategy for archiving data
- Only connect with a server on a secure URL
- Make sure data is encrypted
- Always store data on remote servers
- Duplicate data at geographically disparate data centers
The best cloud-based vendors are offering many solutions for business continuity and disaster management assurances. Natural disasters are unavoidable, but your options for having constant connection to your data are plentiful in the cloud. A good vendor is going to have your data stored at Level IV data centers that are geographically disparate, which means if a storm knocks out an entire data center, your information is still going to be available to you.
Also, the best vendors are constantly monitoring outside threats, such as cybercriminal activity. Something new comes up every day, so being diligent about coming up with ways to foil these criminals is important in today’s digital climate.
At OffSite Image Management, Inc., we’ve built our solutions around cloud PACS for a 365-degree approach to healthcare IT and radiology. If you’re looking to control your data in an extremely secure environment, we’re ready to show you how it’s done.