CHICAGO—Cloud computing can offer many advantages to radiology, but only if certain challenges—namely networking and privacy issues—can be managed effectively, according to a Nov. 25 session at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) conference.

More facilities have turned to virtualization and cloud data storage as part of the comprehensive disaster recovery plan.

The surge in imaging study volume and pursuit of quality has yielded both tremendous benefits and contentious repercussions for patients, providers and payors. But behind the scenes, IT leadership is working on a cardinal issuewhere to store the ballooning number of studies and allow quick recall when needed.

Data are growing in size and scope. Radiology departments and imaging centers face unprecedented bandwidth challenges that stem from the need to store exponentially growing datasets. With bandwidth costs increasing and servers consuming valuable square footage, radiology is on the lookout for a new solution. Cloud storage may fit the bill.

Cloud computing technology—a market that Merrill Lynch values at $95 billion over the next five years—has recently begun to move  into healthcare. However, questions remain about how facilities and departments, including radiology, will fully take advantage of these zero footprint solutions.