Multicloud Madness: Navigating the Complexity and Cost of Healthcare Cloud Platforms

Managing multiple cloud platforms has become commonplace in healthcare and life sciences organizations. The flexibility and benefits of a mix of public, private, and edge cloud architecture allow for deploying workloads to the most appropriate best-of-breed solution. However, the #multicloud approach also introduces enormous complexity, requiring careful planning and execution of technology, people, and processes.

At the recent #HIMSS23 conference, John Lynn, Founder and Chief Editor for Healthcare IT Today, moderated a panel of healthcare IT experts during a social meetup in the Dell Technologies booth. The panelists included Jim Bilsky, MS, ITIL, Vice President, Enterprise IT Operations at Baptist Health, Juan Luis Cruz Bermúdez, PhD, CIO at Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Sunnie Southern, MS, RD, LD, Health AI Products GTM Lead at Google Cloud, and George M., Global Healthcare CIO at Dell Technologies.

The panel discussed the complexity of multicloud architecture, and how to best manage healthcare clouds and associated costs. They emphasized that there is no one path to a multicloud environment and no one multicloud solution that fits the specific needs of each organization and their #TransformHIT strategies, especially when healthcare organizations must comply with government requirements and laws, particularly around privacy. However, there are best practices that help healthcare providers globally plan, build, and deploy multicloud strategies that make sense for their needs and take into consideration the requirements of all key stakeholders.

The success of a multicloud implementation requires identifying the right team members and ensuring they have the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the complexities of a multicloud environment. In addition, it requires defining and standardizing workflows, policies, and procedures to ensure all stakeholders understand their roles and responsibilities.

The panelists also discussed how to balance the need for security with the need for accessibility of patient data, the importance of vendor collaboration, and the need to simplify the approach to multicloud while considering the cost, value proposition, application assessment, and operating model.

The key takeaways from the 45 min discussion were that a solid multicloud strategy needs good IT partnerships and focus not only on the technology but also on the human aspects like change management, new skill and education requirements, and empathy from all involved. Panelists emphasized that planning, building, and running a multicloud environment requires a clear strategy, strong educational plan, and a focus on the value proposition and operating models that simplify application utilization and security.

Now, more than ever, a multicloud environment is an essential component of healthcare IT infrastructure, but it requires careful planning, execution, and collaboration between technology, people, and processes. Healthcare organizations can navigate the multicloud madness through a comprehensive strategy that balances the cost, security, and accessibility of patient data.

Written by:

Juan Pablo Ortiz

Senior Marketing Manager

Dell Technologies