What is the cloud?

Originally published in GP magazine .

Written for GP magazine around 2011. This is the version I submitted - the published article may have been edited.

Cloud computing is an example of something called software as a service (SaaS). Instead of selling you a computer as a box and telling you how wonderful it is, how fast it is, how much disk space it has - what you can do with it is the important thing. How good the software is and how much it helps you deliver your goals is key. As it’s a service, you should only be interested in the quality of the service, not its operation.

It’s a natural extension of the virtualisation of software, where the actual program you are using is running on a server somewhere else in the world and all you are seeing is the screen images. In practice the software runs through a web browser, which is the only software that is required locally. If you have used Yahoo mail or Googlemail you are using a form of SaaS. In many ways it’s similar to the old-style dumb terminals that some might remember, where little of the actual processing is done locally.

One example often used to explain the service delivery is electricity supply - you don’t care where it was made, how it got to you, how it’s measured; all you care about is the light works when you turn it on. OK, you might care it’s green, but this applies to SaaS too.

Why does this matter to a GP practice?

Well, the best thing about cloud computing is it should be seamless to the end user. So no more installing software, updating it all the time, saving your work and backing it all up. No more having someone run around the machines or pop to the server room. Everything can be accessed through simple cheap machines with few moving parts and all the hard work is done far away by highly trained technicians.

At the moment

In my practice, depending on which machine you use you might get a different version of Internet Explorer, as the IT department seem incapable of keeping them all up to date; same with Office, same with EMIS and Docman. On some machines, e.g. the board room where demonstrations happen, they never get updated, leaving lots of embarrassed presenters.

A possible future

Replacing PCs with cheap terminals at their next refresh can make large cost savings. Instead of having one or more servers per practice, a few very large servers can remotely host the software, that can be paid for on an as-used basis, again probably saving money. You will be location independent and everything is backed up automatically, reducing data loss.

Cloud advantages:

• Don’t need expensive PCs on each desk, just a good monitor, mouse and keyboard.
• Can use rental and lease models or even pay as you go. Only users who use a piece of software need pay for it.
• Don’t need to worry about where you store stuff. It’s all automatically backed up.
• It’s easier to standardise across an organisation and have strict security policies.
• The software is always kept up to date, with everyone using the same version.

Disadvantages:

• Speed of your connection vitally important.
• Lose your connection and you are stuffed.
• Server downtime can affect your business - need strict SLA.
• Look at what happens to your data should you terminate a contract or move supplier.
• Big suppliers of software services might make targets for organised hackers.