Part of Getting started with cloud adoption for NHS trusts
The need to tackle on-premises IT infrastructure
Before cloud computing, the NHS invested heavily in on-premise data centres, requiring dedicated infrastructure teams for aging, inadequate facilities. This incurred high operational costs and made it difficult to meet growing digital demands for care innovation.
With reliance on the internet surging, NHS Trusts now struggle to sustain extensive physical IT infrastructures. Cloud has emerged as a solution to optimise resources.
For example, electronic patient record system (EPR) adoption often requires precisely mirrored QA testing environments. Traditionally, deploying these added huge costs in hardware, cabling, and configuration delaying release of vital features. With cloud, NHS developers can swiftly replicate entire EPR production environments on-demand in minutes, without physical installation. Environments can then be efficiently deactivated when unneeded, minimising cost.
Cloud offers flexibility and efficiency while meeting healthcare standards and regulations. On-premises data centres lead to excessive capital lock-in and workforce burden managing facilities. Cloud allows paying only for consumed services and automates admin tasks. By adopting cloud, the NHS can focus resources on frontline care innovation rather than maintaining infrastructure. Cloud also enables rapid responses to changing demands and easier integration of emerging technologies like AI and big data analytics.
Transitioning from legacy IT is a journey requiring careful change management. But cloud promises huge dividends in optimising NHS digital capabilities while controlling costs.
Cost containment, efficiency and flexibility are likely to be the focus for many NHS organisations.
Every investment will be scrutinised for the value it brings to the business and their customers.
Challenges facing NHS trusts
Agility and business continuity
Being able to adapt and pivot at speed to survive
Operating efficiencies
Increasing productivity and reducing costs through innovation.
Sustainability
Achieving net zero before the 2050 global deadline.
Data security
The threat of cyber attacks is constant and real, across every industry.
Skills shortage
The shortage of skilled IT personnel is causing delays in digital transformation
- integration: On-premises tech is left behind, with a lack of knowledge on how to integrate cloud
- lack of visibility: Silos across complex infrastructure often means fewer actionable insights
- data silos: Individual data points and metrics are hard to cross-reference.
- increased costs: Complex infrastructures are costly, and cloud can create stranded assets
- security and compliance exposure: On-prem combined with cloud and edge create a bigger attack surface
- additional strain on resources: Disparate processes rely on manual management
Migrating entire ecosystems to the cloud used to be seen as the silver bullet, but recently the need for a hybrid approach has been identified as best practice combining the benefits of on-premises and cloud solutions to deliver a more robust, scalable and secure organisation.
Last edited: 19 September 2024 11:05 am