Extended outlook: description, utilization, and daily applications of cloud technology in radiology

The purpose of this article is to discuss the concept of cloud technology, its role in medical applications and radiology, the role of the radiologist in using and accessing these vast resources of information, and privacy concerns and HIPAA compliance strategies.

Cloud computing is the delivery of shared resources, software, and information to computers and other devices as a metered service. This technology has a promising role in the sharing of patient medical information and appears to be particularly suited for application in radiology, given the field's inherent need for storage and access to large amounts of data. The radiology cloud has significant strengths, such as providing centralized storage and access, reducing unnecessary repeat radiologic studies, and potentially allowing radiologic second opinions more easily. There are significant cost advantages to cloud computing because of a decreased need for infrastructure and equipment by the institution. Private clouds may be used to ensure secure storage of data and compliance with HIPAA. In choosing a cloud service, there are important aspects, such as disaster recovery plans, uptime, and security audits, that must be considered. Given that the field of radiology has become almost exclusively digital in recent years, the future of secure storage and easy access to imaging studies lies within cloud computing technology.