Benefits of Cloud Based Solutions

Discuss about the Strengths and Weaknesses of Cloud Computing.

My Record System is an application to keep electronic management of health information. It helps in providing safe, efficient and better quality health care services. It helps in improving the communication between the healthcare providers and patients. The information related to the patient can be shared among different healthcare providers. It provides unique encryption and authentication for secure and safe procedure of sharing information (Digital Health, 2018).

The cloud based has become essential in the medical industry. It helps in sharing information about patients among medical service providers on urgent basis in real time. It can help them in providing quality services to the patients. The healthcare sector has become a digital platform where plenty of data is collected. It helps in transforming data into meaningful information. It makes it easy to share and access data for the users. It is a cost effective method of sharing data files. The healthcare industry needs systems that provide high data security. The industry is focusing on better collaboration and data sharing (Innovative Architects, 2018).

Cloud based solutions can be defined as a technology used to make services, data or applications available to the users on demand via the internet or shared cloud computing networks. It benefits the business by increasing capacity, functionality and reducing cost. Cloud based solutions can be accessed from anywhere, any time by users having smart phones. It allows the users to connect remotely by enabling sharing, storing and accessing on remote servers (Investopedia, 2018).

Below are some of the advantages of Cloud based solutions.

• Infrastructure as a service

The vendors provide software, data storage and network equipments without purchase and bill is also made on the resources used.

• Platform as a service

The platform required to run the operating system, database and other stuff is provided by the vendor.

• Software as a service

The vendor runs the software application for the user instead of purchasing licenses.

• Cost reduction

It reduces various costs by eliminating various activities like paper work, IT staff costs and electricity bills etc.

• Scalability

It removes the requirement of software and hardware upgrades. The user is asked to pay only for what services and resources are used.

• Up to date technology

The vendors provide latest and sophisticated technologies to the users to make them up to date with the market trends.

• Collaboration and accessibility

It provides the user with features and mobility and easy access from anywhere.

• Data Storage

The cloud based solutions provide almost unlimited storage capacity.

• Backup and recovery

Challenges of Cloud Based Solutions

The restoring and backing up of data is easy as all the data is stored on the cloud (Viswanathan, 2018).

• Technical issues

Cloud based solutions sometimes faces serious dysfunction issues. It is prone to outrages and other technical problems. In case of any internet connection issue the user will invariably be stuck.

• Security on the cloud

There is risk of data leakage in storing data and important files on external softwares. The user is required to provide access with important business data to the service provider. It creates a security challenge for the service providers. It also creates the risk of scanning and exploiting loopholes because of easy accessibility.

• Prone to attacks

The storage of information on one cloud creates the risk of hack attacks.

• Downtime

Due to a large number of clients working together the system can become overwhelmed and lead to temporarily suspend the business operations.

• Vendor lock in

It is difficult for organizations to switch between the vendors. The integration of cloud applications on other platforms create various technical and support issues (Levelcloud, 2018).

• Data ownership

There is no surety by the service providers to give a back up of the stored data.

• Data authenticity

Due to the accessibility of data to the service providers, safeguarding and validating the data is difficult.

• Risk of unavailability

There may be situations of shutting down the vendor’s resources (Gadgetzz, 2012).

Three vendors providing Cloud based solutions are:

1. RENDTECH Associates

They provide the healthcare sector with all the clinical applications and data on one cloud. It provides the healthcare providers with reliable, cost effective and secure application. It provides the users with the benefit of using clinical applications from anywhere without software upgrades. The vendor maintains the server, network and ecosystems to support health businesses. It provides an e-clinic manager tool to reduce user errors and administration costs (Rendta, 2018).

1. Harbour IT

They provide the users a range of cloud infrastructure solutions according to the needs of the clients. It can provide the users with hybrid solutions including Harbour IT’s own cloud metro infrastructure, Amazon web services, Microsoft office 365 or a combination of them all. They provide the users high level of security and reliability.

Reasons for choosing Harbour IT

• Most experienced cloud services provider in Australia.
• Use of refined methodologies.
• Uptime and reliability of data.
• Eliminates the requirement of software upgrades.
• Check up reports weekly, daily or monthly.

(harbourit, n.d.)

1. Trusted Cloud

They provide an easier platform to meet the flexibility and growing IT demands of the healthcare industry. The cloud based solution is used by specialists and dental practitioners. It is focused on providing robust and functional cloud solutions to the healthcare industry. All the data related to the patient are maintained in Australian data centres providing privacy and high security of data. It provides the users with high speed connection. It maintains complete control on the usage of resources. It provides the user with accessibility, reliability and security of the patient’s information. It does not require a significant investment for the cloud services provided. It provides compliance of data and ensures that only authorized people are able to perform sensitive transactions or tasks (Trustedcloud, 2018).

Comparison of Three Vendors Providing Cloud Based Solutions in Healthcare Sector

SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) is a software development model. It comprises of six steps to create hardware, software or both, to meet the customer’s requirements. The SDLC includes various steps like planning, analysis, design, building, testing, maintenance and deployment. The organizations are able to produce qualitative software with the help of the SDLC process. (Half, 2017)

The predictive Approach to SDLC defines the software development in a phased progression of activities. It involves certain activities associated with the software development.

Pros of the Predictive Approach

• No Financial surprises

After the planning of requirements, accurate cost can be estimated.

• The testing process is transparent as the test scenarios are detailed in the planning of functional specifications.
• The design of software development makes the output clear to everyone.
• It involves a higher degree of discipline. Each phase is defined with starting and conclusion which makes the process execution on time.
• The planning and design phase helps the users in finding alternative solutions for the development issues.
• With the help of technical documents the objectives become clear to everyone.
• The predictive model is easy to use and understand.
• Customer involvement in every process is reduced with the understanding of the requirements in the first phase.
• Provides high visibility of the progress.
• The deliverables of one stage become raw material for the other stage(Kienitz, 2017).

Cons of the predictive approach

• It is a rigid model and provides no flexibility to the changing requirements.
• System and hardware requirements are set according to the customers.
• Change in one phase results to changes in the other phases (Experts-exchange, 2014).
• If the assumptions are wrong, it leads to a delay in the completion of the project.
• Idle resources are there, as for the execution of the second phase, completion of the first phase is the progress within the phases is difficult to be measured.
• Longer time in delivery of the product.
• The customers may find it difficult to define their needs in the requirement phase. (Melonfire, 2006)

The Adaptive Approach to SDLC is an iterative software development model. This model is used for the development of high risk projects. The phases in the process are defined as loops. It combines the processes of both the waterfall model and prototype models of SDLC. The software is developed systematically in loops and a prototype is developed after each phase. This prototype shows aspects of the system and can be tested for user evaluation. The model include four phases namely planning, risk analysis, engineering phase and the evaluation phase (Tech Target, 2016).

The adaptive model is highly flexible as its development phases can be altered by the project manager to remove the complexity of the project.  Monitoring of the project is easy and effective. The model is transparent as    each can be reviewed by the concerned people. It provides collaboration between the client and the development team with effective communication between the team and the client at each phase of the process. The communication helps in better understanding of the customer’s needs and make changes in any phase if required (Cerritos , 2018).

Risk management helps in identifying and eliminating risk. The project provides post project monitoring. It provides documentation control. The product achieved at the end can be customized from the initial phase. Changes in the product development can be made. It develops trust in the clients as the managers explain the project after each phase. It is a customer focused model which ensures the involvement of the clients in software development. The testing and reviews after each phase lead to development of high quality products (Charlton, 2014).

It is a time consuming model as it has extensive customer involvement in the project development. Expertise skills are required for the project review and evaluation. For the effective implementation of the project, specific protocols and rules should be followed. The development of the project through this model is tough. Various customizations make it a difficult process. It is an expensive method not suitable for low risk projects. It is a complex affair due to the need of high documentation. The success of the project depends on effective risk analysis (Istqbexamcertification, 2018).

Software Development Life Cycle

The selection of the SDLC model is affected by various factors. Familiar projects can be developed through the predictive approach to software development. The predictive model provides a structured way of software development. The projects with changing conditions are more suitable for the predictive approach. The predictive approach is more suitable as it is easy to implement and can be understood by the team. The predictive approach is beneficial when the outcomes are known. It is suitable as the parameters of the model are known and familiar. The predictive model is beneficial for the low as well high risk projects. The users are generally aware of their needs, which provides clear information about the end product requirement (Warner, 2005).

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Trustedcloud. (2018). Healthcare. Retrieved May 24, 2018, from Trustedcloud.com.au: https://www.trustedcloud.com.au/solutions/industry/healthcare/

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Warner, E. (2005, December 02). Adaptive vs. Predictive: Is the end clear? Retrieved May 24, 2018, from Idea.org: https://www.idea.org/blog/2005/12/02/adaptive-vs-predictive-is-the-end-clear/