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THINKING OF BUYING ...
• Out of sight, out of mind. Because the programs and data are hosted
on remote servers, there's no need to fear an interruption in service
(unless, of course, there's a power failure or you neglect to pay your
internet service provider) or the need to rebuild your data in the event
of a flood, fire or other catastrophic disruption.
• Cost considerations. Simply put, computer hardware is not the most
durable capital investment. Technology improves and economizes so
quickly that it's not long before you discover a better option for half
the cost. Cloud-based services are much more cost-efficient. If you'd
outsource business office services, why not electronic applications?
• Security assured. It's understandable to believe that protected data
is safer in an on-site server. But keep in mind that the most common
threats to data security come from inside, not outside: including lost
and stolen laptops and unscrupulous staffers. It's arguable that the IT
experts who run online services can offer more sophisticated security
than healthcare admins moonlighting in IT.
Before you sign on
You can read vendors' websites, interview users, and study case studies, but the only proof of how a cloud-based management service
works, and whether it works for you, is to use it yourself. It's reasonable to expect developers will allow you a free, 30-day trial of their
services in order to judge their uses and results. After all, a pilot program doesn't cost anything near what transporting and demonstrating
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