Healthcare Cloud

A recent survey projected that the global healthcare cloud computing is estimated to cross the $5 billion mark. The projected figure comes as no surplice considering all proponents of the healthcare sector are desperately trying to limit the healthcare costs and cloud computing technology offers a low-cost alternative to achieve the intended.

At a broader level, most businesses and individuals are familiar with some of the primary advantages that cloud offers – on-demand rapid scalability, flexibility, low costs, increased accessibility etc., to name a few. On the other hand, security of data poses a big question mark in front of investors & businesses considering a transition to cloud technology.

What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is essentially the ability to use the internet for accessing a number of computers, software, hardware & servers remotely, to achieve a business objective without actually owning or setting up physical systems such as servers etc.

Private vs. Public cloud
Public cloud is a model where service providers offer hosted services - Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) - over the internet to general public. The services may be offered free of cost or may be available on per-usage cost model. The structure offers high flexibility as the users can increase or decrease services based on changing demands.

Private cloud which is also known as internal cloud is a public cloud made further secure by a firewall. The private cloud is made accessible only to a limited set of people thus making it more secure as compared to a public cloud.

As security of data within a healthcare cloud is one of the prime concerns for healthcare participants, private cloud offers a viable alternative to a public cloud for businesses. With the pressure to reduce costs intensifying for insurers, more payers are likely to adopt healthcare cloud services to benefit from its inherent advantages.