In an era where technology advancements shape nearly every industry, the healthcare sector is increasingly adopting multicloud computing strategies to streamline operations and enhance efficiency. Over the past decade, significant investments in cloud-based IT solutions have been made to modernize infrastructure and manage data and workloads. However, while the promises of cloud solutions are vast, many healthcare organizations find themselves in a “multicloud-by-default” scenario, inadvertently creating more complexity and inefficiencies. As Michael Fredericks, Global APEX and Multicloud Healthcare Lead at Dell Technologies, points out, this scattered approach can lead to management challenges, security concerns, and additional costs.
The Challenges of a Multicloud-by-Default Approach
Issues in Management and Security
Managing various applications across different cloud environments can be problematic for healthcare organizations. Each cloud provider often operates differently, necessitating unique management protocols and security measures. This fragmentation can lead to increased administrative burdens, with IT departments scrambling to maintain control and consistency across disparate systems. Moreover, siloed data storage and processing can compromise security, making it difficult to maintain stringent industry standards and regulatory compliance. In a field where patient data privacy is paramount, any lapse in security can have severe repercussions.
Hidden Costs and Inefficiencies
A multicloud-by-default strategy can also escalate operational costs. When different departments independently choose their cloud solutions without a unified strategy, their decisions may lead to redundant services or underutilized resources. This piecemeal adoption of cloud services runs the risk of not fully leveraging economies of scale, leading to wasted financial resources. Additionally, unpredictable cloud billing and challenges in monitoring usage can result in unforeseen costs, further straining budgets. The lack of a cohesive strategy often leaves organizations unable to take full advantage of the cost-saving potentials inherent in cloud technologies.
Adopting a Multicloud-by-Design Strategy
A Systematic Approach to Cloud Adoption
To address these challenges, Fredericks advocates for a “multicloud-by-design” strategy, a more deliberate and systematic approach to cloud adoption. This method involves deploying a comprehensive cloud strategy that integrates diverse cloud services into a unified framework. By choosing this designed method, healthcare institutions can better manage their cloud environments, ensuring interoperability, enhancing security, and achieving cost-efficiencies. For instance, implementing common data storage components can facilitate seamless interaction between disparate cloud services, thus streamlining operations and improving data analytics capabilities.
Leveraging Public and Private Clouds
A well-designed multicloud approach can also involve a strategic mix of public and private cloud environments. Public clouds offer scalability and access to advanced technologies, while private clouds provide control and security. For example, one healthcare entity implemented an AI imaging solution for radiology in a private cloud, achieving a 40% reduction in the time required for radiologists to read exams. This not only improved patient and clinician satisfaction but also reduced costs. By striking a balance between public and private clouds, organizations can maximize the benefits of both environments, ensuring safe, efficient, and cost-effective operations.
Understanding Motivations and Collaborating with Experts
Establishing Clear Business Objectives
To fully realize the benefits of a multicloud strategy, healthcare organizations must understand their motivations for switching cloud environments. It’s about more than exiting the “data center business”; it’s crucial to identify the underlying business objectives that drive cloud adoption. Clear objectives help guide decisions, ensuring that chosen solutions align with organizational goals. Whether the aim is cost savings, improved patient care, or enhanced data security, understanding these drivers can help tailor a cloud strategy that meets specific needs and delivers greater value.
Partnering with Managed Service Providers
Collaborating with managed service providers (MSPs) experienced in healthcare can further enhance the effectiveness of a multicloud strategy. These experts bring in-depth knowledge of the regulatory landscape and the unique needs of healthcare organizations. By partnering with MSPs, healthcare institutions can develop tailored multicloud strategies that ensure regulatory compliance and minimize risks, such as cloud provider lock-in. These partnerships can also support ongoing management and optimization, freeing internal resources to focus on core healthcare functions and improving overall service delivery.
Choosing the Right Partners for Long-term Success
Expertise in Healthcare Workloads
Ultimately, the success of a multicloud strategy hinges on selecting the right technology partners with expertise in managing healthcare workloads. These partners should have a proven track record of working within the healthcare sector and understand the specific challenges and needs of the industry. They can assist in outlining clear objectives, developing a structured cloud strategy, and implementing solutions that deliver long-term efficiencies and benefits.
Enhancing Efficiency and Innovation
In today’s fast-paced world of technological advancements, nearly every industry is being transformed, with the healthcare sector increasingly turning to multicloud computing strategies to improve efficiency and streamline operations. Over the past ten years, the push for cloud-based IT solutions has led to significant investments aimed at updating infrastructure and managing data and workloads more effectively. Despite the numerous benefits that cloud solutions promise, many healthcare organizations unintentionally find themselves in a “multicloud-by-default” situation. This often results in greater complexity and inefficiencies rather than the expected improvements. Michael Fredericks, the Global APEX and Multicloud Healthcare Lead at Dell Technologies, emphasizes that this haphazard approach can introduce management difficulties, security issues, and higher costs. By adopting a more deliberate and strategic multicloud plan, healthcare institutions can mitigate these problems and truly unlock the potential of cloud technologies to enhance their operations and patient care quality.
