EPIC for Power Virtual Server and VCF: Performance, Security and Compliance

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Introduction 

In the healthcare industry, Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems like EPIC require an infrastructure that provides both high performance and rigorous compliance and security. IBM Power Virtual Server and VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) on IBM Cloud offer an optimal hybrid deployment model, allowing healthcare providers to maintain on-premises production environments while utilizing IBM Cloud for Disaster Recovery (DR) and backup. With IBM’s Security and Compliance Center technology and infrastructure management services from GlassHouse Systems, this solution ensures operational continuity, data security, and regulatory compliance tailored to healthcare needs. 

EPIC on IBM Power Virtual Server: Optimizing Performance for Healthcare Workloads 

IBM Power Systems, particularly with Power10 technology, are designed to support EPIC’s intensive data workloads, offering unmatched reliability and scalability. These systems are ideally suited for healthcare environments that require rapid, consistent access to critical data, ensuring that EPIC operates smoothly and can adapt to data growth and regulatory demands. 

Advantages of Running EPIC on IBM Power Virtual Server: 

  • High Performance for Data-Intensive Workloads: IBM Power Virtual Servers provide the computational power needed for EPIC’s demanding transactional workloads. With Power10’s advanced processor design, these servers can efficiently handle large volumes of data and transactions, supporting quick data retrieval and high availability, which are essential for patient care. 
  • Scalability and Flexibility: IBM Power Systems can seamlessly scale resources as needed, aligning with the increasing demands of EPIC environments. This flexibility is crucial as patient data grows and compliance requirements evolve. 
  • Healthcare-Specific Compliance and Data Integrity: IBM Cloud for Healthcare adheres to rigorous regulatory standards such as HIPAA and HITRUST, ensuring that EPIC data is encrypted and compliant. With built-in controls for data residency and access management, IBM Power Virtual Servers support healthcare providers in securing sensitive patient information. 

VCF on IBM Cloud for Hybrid Deployments: Extending EPIC Securely Across Environments 

VMware Cloud Foundation on IBM Cloud provides a cohesive infrastructure that enables healthcare providers to extend their EPIC environments from on-premises to the cloud. This hybrid model ensures operational consistency and enhanced security across cloud and local environments. 

Key Benefits of VCF on IBM Cloud for EPIC: 

  • Unified Management and Operational Consistency: VCF on IBM Cloud enables consistent management across on-premises and cloud-based EPIC environments. This unified approach simplifies operational oversight, ensuring continuity and supporting EPIC’s performance demands. 
  • Automated Disaster Recovery and Compliance: With VMware Site Recovery Manager (SRM), VCF on IBM Cloud provides automated, policy-driven DR capabilities that minimize downtime and data loss. These features are crucial for meeting healthcare standards on data availability and integrity. 
  • Comprehensive Security with IBM’s Security and Compliance Center: IBM’s Security and Compliance Center allows healthcare providers to monitor and enforce security policies across hybrid environments. This platform offers continuous monitoring, audit reporting, and regulatory assessments that align with HIPAA and other stringent standards specific to EPIC deployments. 

Leveraging IBM’s Security and Compliance Center for Regulatory Assurance 

IBM Cloud Security and Compliance Center helps healthcare organizations manage complex regulatory requirements across cloud and on-premises environments. By integrating this technology, IBM provides tools for continuous compliance monitoring and validation against industry standards. 

How IBM’s Security and Compliance Center Protects EPIC Deployments: 

  • Continuous Compliance Monitoring: The Security and Compliance Center ensures real-time compliance with regulatory frameworks like HIPAA, providing healthcare providers visibility into their compliance posture and alerting them to potential risks. 
  • Automated Security Assessments and Reporting: The platform automates security assessments and provides detailed reporting, simplifying audit preparation and compliance demonstration. This customization allows healthcare organizations to tailor compliance strategies to their specific needs. 
  • Robust Data Governance: IBM’s data governance policies ensure that only authorized personnel access sensitive patient data, supporting data sovereignty. This commitment to data control helps healthcare providers maintain ownership and compliance across hybrid environments. 

GlassHouse Systems’ Infrastructure Management: Supporting Security and Compliance 

Infrastructure management services are essential for maintaining performance and security in a hybrid EPIC deployment. GlassHouse Systems provides infrastructure-focused services, covering operational support, proactive monitoring, and security management for the underlying EPIC environment. 

GlassHouse Systems’ Role in Infrastructure Management for EPIC: 

  • Proactive Security and Compliance Management: GlassHouse Systems focuses on aligning infrastructure with healthcare regulations, providing ongoing monitoring and support for security and compliance. These services mitigate risks associated with infrastructure, ensuring the foundational EPIC environment meets regulatory standards. 
  • Managed Infrastructure Services: GlassHouse Systems delivers infrastructure-specific security services, from threat detection to vulnerability management, enhancing the resilience of EPIC’s underlying infrastructure. Their role is focused on the infrastructure layer, providing essential security without direct involvement in EPIC’s application-level functions. 
  • Backup and Disaster Recovery for Infrastructure: GlassHouse Systems offers DR and backup solutions tailored to the infrastructure that supports EPIC, ensuring data integrity and availability. This service safeguards the foundational infrastructure, enabling healthcare providers to recover data and maintain continuity at the infrastructure level. 

Conclusion 

IBM Power Virtual Server and VCF on IBM Cloud provide a high-performance, secure, and compliant environment for EPIC deployments. By incorporating IBM’s Security and Compliance Center, healthcare providers gain advanced tools for data protection, regulatory adherence, and data sovereignty. GlassHouse Systems complements this setup with essential infrastructure management services, ensuring that the foundational EPIC infrastructure remains secure and compliant. This hybrid cloud approach optimizes EPIC environments for both immediate operational needs and long-term resilience, empowering healthcare organizations to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape with confidence. 

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