The cloud has become extremely popular, and many healthcare facilities are faced with the decision whether to move certain applications to this platform or invest in and maintain their current IT infrastructure. An important business decision, this requires deliberation, number crunching, and a firm grasp with regards to both the benefits and shortcomings of each of these two options.

Because Vaultara’s Flight solution is hosted on virtual servers, we are often asked how virtualization differs from cloud computing or whether they are, in essence, the same thing. While these two terms are often confused or interchanged, they are, in fact, different.

To put it simply, virtualization is made up of software that can make hardware much more efficient; cloud computing, essentially, is the service which is often the result of this manipulation.

Virtualization

As defined by Technopedia, ‘Virtualization refers to the creation of a virtual resource such as a server, desktop, operating system, file, storage or network.’ Furthermore, the ‘main goal of virtualization is to manage workloads by radically transforming traditional computing to make it more scalable’ and ‘it can be applied to a wide range of system layers, including operating system-level virtualization, hardware-level virtualization, and server virtualization.’

Traditional servers have typically been deployed with a one-application-per server mentality: a server is purchased, installed, configured and maintained to perform one specific task for the enterprise or, in some cases, perhaps just a single department. With virtualization now so affordable and efficient, IT departments are able to run multiple applications (or multiple operating systems) on the same server hardware, each “virtual” server independent of others.

Efficiency doesn’t just refer to how well the server is being used, but with a deployed virtual environment of a few servers now managing potentially hundreds of applications, the number of servers required within an enterprise now is a fraction of what it used to be, reducing power consumption, cooling requirements and noise levels. The number of networking components, such as switches, routers or gateways, can now be removed as these once only available in hardware configurations, can now also be virtualized, saving considerable expense.

Various components of a healthcare facility’s patient and business data may be saved in different areas, but is all controlled by the IT department. Different software may be installed and used by different users, all possibly connected via a local area network (LAN). However, if, for example, someone’s computer crashes, for whatever reason, all the information is still saved and can be readily accessed by other authorized users.

The benefits of virtualization:

• The company either owns or leases the software – they basically pay only for the services used. New software can be obtained as needed.
• It gives its users the control as well as the flexibility it needs in order to manage its own systems, while maintaining the ability to change platforms and servers as needed. Multiple system applications can be run simultaneously on the same hardware.
• Where data is stored in-house, a company has a level of control with regards to troubleshooting technical issues or responding to any type of breach.
• With virtualization, a business needs less servers, as each is more efficiently used, which contrasts with the traditionally built systems which are usually underutilized. This results in a marked reduction in power costs.
• All costs associated with the management and administration of the infrastructure form part of IT operations, and are not outsourced to someone else.

• IT staff may find it a time-consuming task to track as well as monitor the data and storage associated with it. It could thus, potentially, increase their workload substantially.
• Providers potentially charge for each use of their software’s application.

Cloud-computing

Cloud computing can be defined as ‘a term that applies to applications and data storage that are delivered over the Internet or via wireless technology.’ Before the conception of the cloud, information was stored directly on a computer so sharing it with others meant sending as an attachment via e-mail. Now, with applications like Dropbox and Google Docs, information can be shared immediately and accessed from anywhere.

To make this possible, the data being accessed or uploaded is stored in a location determined by each particular provider. The end user has no control of where (physically) that data is. Organizations that are considering a move to the cloud should be fully aware of where their vendors store their clients’ private and personal information; however, they typically won’t have any say in the matter. While this might be a negative for some, businesses which have huge amounts of data may want to store it away from their premises to avoid purchasing costly servers for storage.

The benefits of the cloud:

• Users can share information and resources, and store data without having to set up or maintain the infrastructure to do so, reducing or eliminating the need for a large IT department.
• Lower startup costs and applications can be up and running quickly.
• Scalability according to needs at any given time.

 The limitations of the cloud:

• Incremental costs – Cloud computing may, at first glance, appear to be a cheaper option, but many applications become increasingly more expensive the more they are used.
• Security concerns – Data is stored by a third party which is off-site, and the provider performs updates, and manages and maintains security. Your data’s safety is thus someone else’s responsibility. Cyber attacks are particularly problematic because enormous amounts of data are stored by all types of users on the same cloud system. When that system is breached, all users are vulnerable. Additionally, you have a blind trust that the provider’s data center is as secure as they claim it is.
• Lack of control and potential for service disruptions – Although most cloud providers offer guarantees with regard to data security and uptime, customers have no input as to the measures put in place to achieve that. As with any technology, there is always the risk of a possible down time. In effect, if there happens to be an outage, there is no way to gain access to stored information until the problem is resolved. Getting in touch with support may also be more challenging during such a scenario.

Whether using the cloud or a virtualized system, each has its benefits as well as its pitfalls. For small businesses or startups, the cloud is an excellent option as it can be seen as an initial cost saver and a relatively safe way of storing data. Larger organizations – especially those in the healthcare sector where patient confidentiality is of the utmost importance – may prefer an on-premise, virtualized system in order to have total control of the storage of and access to their data.

Virtualization enables healthcare facilities to have more options when it comes to finding a solution for a particular need, especially when, for example, considering an enterprise-wide image sharing software. Storing relevant patient data behind private firewalls with the ability to permit authorized individuals to gain access to such information is an attractive approach if there is concern with regards to using a cloud-based solution. Such an on-premise solution would allow data to be imported into data servers from outside sources, potentially directly onto a relevant workstation and does not need to rely on any cloud services. As the software is hosted by the healthcare organization itself, it is seen by many to be safer with regards to possible data leakage. All information that is stored on the system would be safer from prying eyes, and thus not stored in one central location with a myriad of other businesses’ or individuals’ information. Data would only be accessible to authorized personnel and can be controlled and monitored.

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