WOLF Weekly Cloud Sum-up, Dec 23, 2011

Cloud computing has drawn a great deal of attention as a way to reduce IT costs in healthcare. But are the companies that offer cloud computing well-prepared to meet the HIPAA privacy and security requirements? As hospitals and clinics alike consider their options for adding new applications in a hurry, on a tight budget or lacking necessary resources, many are considering the cloud computing option. With the HITECH EHR incentive payment program kicking into high gear, organizations are feeling pressure to devise ways to roll out new systems quickly so they can earn the maximum payments from Medicare and Medicaid.



Read more to find out about the Key Security Issues of Cloud Computing in Healthcare

Top 10: Private Cloud FAQs

10 of the most common questions about building the private cloud by using Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 (VMM 2012):

1. How is the private cloud different from the public cloud? 
2. Isn't cloud computing, and especially the private cloud, really just the same as virtualization? 
3. How do you build the private cloud for Windows Server and its applications? 
4. What makes up a private cloud built with VMM 2012? 
5. Is a service the same thing as a VM? 
6. What is the Fabric? 
7. Can a VMM 2012 private cloud use other virtualization platforms besides Hyper-V? 
8. So what gives the private cloud self-service capabilities? 
9. When is VMM 2012 due to be released? 
10. Is VMM 2012 the only product that can build the private cloud? 

Cloud computing 'could have many advantages'

Cloud computing solutions can provide many advantages to businesses, but those implementing the service must carefully consider the security aspects of the systems. This is according to one expert who suggested that, like other advanced technologies, cloud computing will rise in popularity as more and more companies realise the benefits, but the trend will also impact on the need to work harder on the quality and safety of software. Phil Codd, managing director and chief markets officer for northern Europe, India and South Africa at Software Quality Systems, said that security and performance are critical to the nature of virtualisation. "Cloud computing can provide tremendous advantages to an organisation and there are additional considerations such as performance testing [and] security testing, as well as the need to ensure consistent functionality," Mr Codd commented.

Cloud Computing Integration – Challenges and Solutions

Often referred to as the ‘ugly part” of cloud computing. Integration plays a crucial role if you want to deliver cloud based solutions to your business. Outlining a cloud strategy could be a time consuming and difficult process, but the planning part must also take into account the fact that the on – premises resources and infrastructure a company has must be coordinated with the applications to be hosted in the cloud.

Cloud Computing: Forecasting First Steps of Adoption

While the fast path to cloud computing varies, it looks like many enterprises, as well as consumers, were already on the way before they really knew what cloud computing meant. Consumers who have been using online services for more than a decade may have become confused when popular software providers such as Microsoft started declaring “to the cloud” in reference to just about every imaginable online service. The typical consumer computer user didn’t realize they were using what is now called cloud services.

We hope these short sum-ups on cloud computing will help you to take a more knowledgeable approach towards moving to the cloud. Stay tuned for more sum-ups on in the forthcoming weeks.

Don’t forget to add your comments and suggestions. I will have more around the cloud a week later. That's all for now. Wish all readers a Merry Christmas. 

Santanu Das
Marketing Evangelist, WOLF Frameworks


NOTE: The views expressed above are purely personal and for informational purposes only. WOLF FRAMEWORKS INDIA PVT. LTD. MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.