What is Cloud Hosting?

Leveraging the Cloud for Better Performance, Scalability, and Reliability

What is cloud hosting, and how can it be leveraged for better performance, scalability, and reliability? Cloud hosting is utilizing servers hosted in a public or private cloud network rather than on-site for your applications – EHR, PM, and others, for example. Unlike traditional hosting methods that rely on a single physical server, cloud hosting distributes the workload across a network of interconnected servers, often referred to as a “cloud.”

In cloud hosting, the resources required to run applications or websites, such as processing power, storage, and memory, are not confined to a single physical server. Instead, they are dynamically allocated and scaled based on the demand. This flexibility allows for better performance, scalability, and reliability compared to traditional hosting methods. Cloud-based computing and data resources easily scale almost immediately to support expanding or contracting staff, new locations, and adding or changing practice specialties or applications.

Cloud hosting in healthcare refers to the practice of storing and accessing healthcare data, applications, and services on remote servers that are hosted in a cloud computing environment. In this model, healthcare organizations can leverage the infrastructure and resources provided by a cloud service provider to manage and store their data securely.

Some key aspects of cloud hosting in healthcare include:

• Data Storage: Healthcare providers can store their patient records, medical images, electronic health records (EHRs), and other healthcare-related data in the cloud. This eliminates the need for local servers and infrastructure, reducing maintenance costs and increasing scalability.
• Data Accessibility: Cloud hosting enables authorized healthcare professionals to access patient data and medical records remotely from any location and device with an internet connection. This improves collaboration and facilitates the exchange of information between healthcare providers, leading to better patient care.
• Security and Compliance: Cloud hosting providers typically offer robust security measures, including data encryption, access controls, and regular data backups. These providers often adhere to strict regulatory standards such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States, ensuring that sensitive patient information remains secure and compliant with relevant privacy regulations. Your cloud provider should be HITRUST-certified to ensure that they adhere to rigorous healthcare-focused regulatory compliance. This certification demonstrates the organization can protect the sensitive information it processes and stores on behalf of clients.
• Scalability and Flexibility: Cloud hosting allows healthcare organizations to scale their infrastructure based on demand. They can easily increase or decrease compute resources, accommodating fluctuations in data volume or application requirements. This scalability provides cost-efficiency and agility to healthcare providers.
• Disaster Recovery: Cloud hosting offers built-in disaster recovery mechanisms, such as routine data backups and geographically distributed server locations. This ensures that healthcare data remains safe and accessible even in the event of a natural disaster or system failure.
• Integration and Interoperability: Cloud hosting facilitates the integration of different healthcare systems, applications, and devices. It enables seamless data exchange between various healthcare stakeholders, promoting interoperability and improving the overall efficiency of healthcare delivery.

It’s important to note that when using cloud hosting in healthcare, organizations need to carefully evaluate the security practices and compliance certifications of their chosen cloud service provider to ensure that patient data remains protected and meets the necessary regulatory requirements.

“Organizations with a cloud hosting solution save an average of $780,000 in data breach costs.”

Med Tech Solutions takes our security and compliance seriously and we recently achieved HITRUST risk-based, 2-year (r2) certification. HITRUST certification is commonly required by healthcare organizations handling PHI (protected health information) and according to HITRUSTaliance.com “provides assurance of transparency, integrity, and validity of assurance process to your customers, vendors, and others.”

Med Tech Solutions offers public, private, hybrid cloud, and practice-hosted solutions, specifically for healthcare. Contact us today to learn more.

Additional Resources:

Med Tech Solutions Blog – Why Your Medical Practice Needs Healthcare-Focused, Cloud-Hosted IT 
Med Tech Solutions Blog – What Is HITRUST Certification and Why Should You Insist That Your IT Partner Has IT?
HITRUST Case Study – PDHI: Proves IT Security Posture to Clients by Leveraging HITRUST CSF

* Source: **Cost of a Data Breach: 19 Facts and Stats to Know in 2023