• Intro Text: Building a data center for a hospital system requires a significant investment in time, money, and resources. A data center is a critical component of any healthcare organization, as it enables the storage, processing, and analysis of large amounts of data. In this article, we will discuss the key elements that need to be considered when building a data center for a hospital system.
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Building a data center for a hospital system requires a significant investment in time, money, and resources. A data center is a critical component of any healthcare organization, as it enables the storage, processing, and analysis of large amounts of data. In this article, we will discuss the key elements that need to be considered when building a data center for a hospital system.

Location

The location of the data center is critical. Ideally, it should be situated in a secure, climate-controlled environment that is close to the hospital. The data center should also be located in an area that is not prone to natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, or hurricanes. The location should also have easy access to power and internet connectivity.

Size

The size of the data center will depend on the amount of data that needs to be stored and processed. The data center should have enough space to accommodate all the necessary equipment, including servers, storage devices, and networking equipment. The size of the data center should also allow for future growth, as the amount of data generated by hospitals is increasing rapidly.

Security

Data security is of utmost importance in a hospital system. The data center should be designed to protect against unauthorized access, physical damage, and cyber attacks. Access to the data center should be restricted to authorized personnel, and the data center should have a multi-layered security system that includes firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and encryption.

Redundancy

A data center should have redundant systems to ensure that data is always available. Redundancy can be achieved by having multiple servers, storage devices, and power sources. Redundancy also helps to minimize downtime in case of system failure.

Cooling and Power

A data center requires a significant amount of power to operate. Hospitals require their data centers to have an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) and backup generators in case of a power outage. The data center should also have a reliable cooling system to maintain a stable temperature.

Scalability

A data center should be scalable to meet the growing demands of the hospital system. The data center should have the ability to add more servers, storage devices, and networking equipment as needed. Scalability also includes the ability to upgrade the data center infrastructure to support new technologies and applications.

Compliance

Hospitals are subject to various regulations and standards, such as HIPAA and HITECH. The data center should be designed to comply with these regulations and standards. Compliance includes the implementation of security controls, data backup and recovery procedures, and data retention policies.

Disaster Recovery

A disaster recovery plan is essential for a hospital system. The data center should have a disaster recovery plan that outlines the procedures for recovering from a disaster such as a fire, flood, or cyber attack. The disaster recovery plan should include data backup and recovery procedures, alternative data center locations, and procedures for notifying stakeholders.

Building a data center for a hospital system requires careful planning and consideration of various elements. These elements include location, size, security, redundancy, power and cooling, scalability, compliance, and disaster recovery. By taking these elements into account, hospitals can build a data center that is secure, reliable, and scalable to meet their growing needs. If you are looking for Evolve in the future with your next hospital data center project - Evovle is the partner and trusted advisor to fit your needs.