Just a few years ago, the concept of cloud computing seemed off-limits for healthcare organizations. The sensitive data handled by hospitals, clinics and insurers would be out there, exposed and available to any curious “wannabe hacker” that could infiltrate a cloud server.
Fast forward just a bit, and cloud computing is now considered a safer option than on-site data storage servers. One reason is that a cloud solution employs security specialists just for the purpose of protecting your data. Their focus in this area is superior to anything you could do in-house to protect your information assets.
This relies, however, on the assumption that you choose a high-quality cloud provider. Here are a few considerations to ensure your migration is successful and your data is secure:
Don’t choose an outlier: As with any technology investment, you have to weigh cost versus quality. There are likely a few providers out there that offer security far superior to their competitors, but you’ll incur costs too high to subscribe. On the other extreme, you don’t want to sign a contract with the cheapest cloud provider out there, because they’re likely cutting corners somewhere -- possibly on security.
As you know, the stakes are higher with protecting biomedical information than even an individual’s financial data. Individuals can order a new credit card or change a phone number, but there’s nothing they can do to recover their biometric identity once it’s compromised.
Diversify: If you put all of your data with one cloud provider, you may be making a mistake. You might experience a breach with a single cloud provider, but it’s unlikely you’d experience a breach across 10 providers at the same time. Consider dividing your information assets among a few data centers to better protect your information.
Be discreet: It’s a big move to migrate to the cloud, one that probably passes some benefits along to your patients. You may be tempted to make an announcement on social media or in a brochure, but that’s akin to announcing you’ve decided to move your pile of gold from a hole in your backyard to a vault at your local bank. Even if you think nobody can get to it, you still don’t want to draw a map to your assets.
Prioritize HIPAA: Choose a provider that is familiar with HIPAA requirements and writes it into the service level agreement (SLA). You don’t want to find out that you’re in violation of regulations because your provider wasn’t as up-to-speed as they claimed. You should also invest in a team member that can monitor data security and HIPAA compliance in an ongoing role.
If your healthcare organization is considering cloud computing, contact us at Enterprise Visions. We can help you leverage the best cloud solutions to help you reduce costs, improve your patients’ experiences, and offer flexibility while protecting critical health information.