Page 9 - Campus Security & Life Safety, July/August 2019

tance, it’s imperative to ensure cybersecurity against outside threats. Visitor management and video verification. In individual health- care locations, video and access are important parts of an overall security approach, but a challenge exists when it comes to the ability of security officials to achieve comprehensive visitor management
and video verification in a single-pane-of-glass view.
Benefits of the Cloud for Connectivity
Though the challenges dispersed healthcare facilities face are numer-
most relevant and up-to-date information in minutes for an immedi- ate and informed response.
Streamlined communications. Security officials tasked with pro- tecting a widespread network of facilities often face the daunting task of ensuring proper communication channels exist. With a cloud- based service model, healthcare facilities can rely on integrator part- ners to help bridge the gap between effective security oversight and communication of day-to-day challenges.
Scalability and flexibility. Video is a valuable tool for any facility when it comes to proactively identifying the most prominent risks facing the organization. As a healthcare establishment grows, adds new locations for services, or its technology systems become more advanced, using a cloud solution to store and manage video data allows for rapid adjustment and agility, reducing the complexity that might come with expansion. With the cloud, owners can gain more insight into daily operations and ensure all organizational and secu- rity goals are met on both a day-to-day basis and in the future—all from a single-pane-of-glass platform.
Data security. While the security of data in the cloud is cer- tainly a much-discussed issue, the fact of the matter is that with the proper protocols in place, the cloud can actually enhance data pro- tection. Dealing with patient confidentiality and privacy protocols for care information makes this especially critical. Healthcare facilities can reduce their security footprint through the cloud, and by utilizing practices such as vulnerability testing, password eti- quette, software patches and encryption, sensitive data is sure to be out of the reach of bad actors. Additionally, public cloud providers have invested significant funds into ensuring their networks are protected and that their services ensure the utmost uptime—it’s critical to the business model to do so. This approach enables healthcare facilities to have peace of mind that security and reli- ability are taken care of.
Automatic updates. The cloud takes the burden off of IT depart- ments when it comes to system management, as upgrades and secu- rity fixes are automatically installed. This is especially important for a smaller healthcare establishment that only has a limited—or nonex- istent—IT team, as it takes the maintenance and operational con- cerns out of their hands.
Cost-effectiveness. The upfront investment in a cloud services model is much more affordable than a hardware-based model. Deploying a cloud-based solution doesn’t require an upfront capital investment, but instead introduces a service-based arrangement where users pay for the amount of video data, storage and add-ons they use. This also helps build a long-term relationship with an inte- grator for continued support. On-premise video storage and manage- ment is also a significant investment, which can add up as a health- care conglomerate expands into multiple regions and facilities. Moving video storage and management to the cloud cuts down on this added expense.
Connected to Success
Cloud-based architecture for security is at the core of achieving a connected healthcare network where dispersed facilities can be a suc- cessful piece of the overall puzzle without becoming a liability. With critical patient information, network concerns, limited IT resources and the need to seamlessly connect into a larger system, the cloud is poised to allow these facilities to strengthen their strategies to protect patients, staff and assets.
Cody Flood is the senior director of sales at Arcules.
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ous, cloud-based services can help enhance business efficiency and security. The growth of the cloud alone within multiple industries is staggering: Gartner predicts that the worldwide public cloud services market is projected to grow 17.3 percent in 2019 to total $206.2 bil- lion, up from $175.8 billion in 2018.
The cloud has proven to be a highly functional, flexible and conve- nient method for healthcare facilities to augment their strategies for protection and modernization in an increasingly connected environ- ment. In this market in particular, the cloud provides numerous ben- efits for optimizing business operations and security processes, including:
Centralization. One of the most advantageous components of the cloud is its ability to allow the appropriate users to access information from any place at any time and from a range of connected devices. All pertinent data is aggregated into one platform, and in the event of a crisis—security or business related—stakeholders can obtain the
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