Cloud computing and platforms have grown significantly over the past decade. By 2010, major technology companies including Google and Microsoft had already invested in cloud computing, and with Apple's release of iCloud in 2011, everyday consumers began using cloud storage daily — extending cloud usage well beyond niche enterprise data backup.
Business Modernization
Cloud platforms let enterprises take a holistic approach to provisioning and managing IT infrastructure, applications, and customer services — modernizing legacy systems and reducing complexity and cost along the way. In healthcare, the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) is enabling connected devices that generate, collect, analyze, and transmit health data — an estimated $300 billion in annual savings for the industry — none of which would be feasible without the cloud underneath it.
Big Data Analytics
Cloud-powered storage supports the massive data volumes needed for big data analytics, from customer preferences to market trends. In healthcare, this has enabled smarter, more accessible Electronic Health Records and made telemedicine possible by supporting patient care delivery from a remote location.
Cloud Storage
Rather than investing in expensive in-house infrastructure, enterprises can store large volumes of data in the cloud and pay only for what they use. For healthcare specifically, this means easier access to medical records, secure sharing of patient data between specialists, and better collaboration among care teams.
Health Insurance
Cloud-based technology lets insurers run more efficiently, moving from centralized, rigid control toward tools that create real efficiencies for the customer. SaaS and IaaS platforms let insurers scale, extend their reach, and build resilience — while breaking down the silos that used to separate patient records from insurance claims.
Application Development and Testing
Cloud platforms give DevOps teams an easy way to configure development and testing environments in a few clicks, instead of standing up traditional infrastructure from scratch. That enables CI/CD pipelines, serverless computing, and microservices — improving both efficiency and time-to-market for new applications.
Modern enterprises have leaned further into cloud computing to stay competitive and cost-effective, gaining efficiency, cost savings, and scalability along the way. In healthcare, "smart beds" with embedded sensors that monitor a patient's vitals, temperature, and weight are one example of how much reach and accessibility the cloud can add to a solution that combines sensors, hardware, software, and data-driven analytics.
