BCI Answers

Preparing to Move to the Cloud

You use the cloud everyday.

If your company has embraced WebEx for video conferencing or Cisco Jabber for IM, real-time interaction and collaboration, you’re already operating in the cloud. If your company has established a Facebook page, created a Twitter account, or a LinkedIn company page, those are additional examples of using cloud-based services. If you use Typepad to publish your corporate blog, yep, cloud again.

One of the reasons that companies have begun embracing cloud services and applications is that the onus for managing their operations, updates and availability is on the vendor who provides them, rather than reliant on your IT department.

This being said, moving company applications and services to the cloud can do a lot to free up IT resources and extend service delivery beyond your business’ traditional boundaries. With the influx of devices that need access to data and applications, along with work blurring the lines between the office and personal time, there’s something to be said for moving more of your business to the cloud. 

Making the leap from running a few applications to moving your company’s critical business applications to the cloud, however, requires a much larger transformation. To operate effectively in the cloud, a company needs to make sure its infrastructure is designed to support the cloud.

This means virtualization.

Virtualization is being used by many companies to consolidate data centers, reduce the number of physical servers in use, cut costs, and to improve disaster and recovery preparedness.

Simply put, virtualization decouples applications and software from the hardware they run on. It pools the resources from computing, storage, and networking to allow a server to support the application that needs the resources, rather than dedicating servers to only one application.

This means that servers that used to sit idle when not needed (an email server at night) can be used on demand (using that idle email server for nightly batch processing from the ERP, for example). The beauty of virtualization is that much of your resource utilization can be automated to move virtual machines seamlessly to take advantage of available resources.

Freed from the need for dedicated servers to handle peak demand, which has led to unused capacity at various levels of the network, companies can greatly decrease the number of servers they need.

Once virtualization is in place, moving to the cloud becomes possible—and the logical next step.

To get there, a few things need to happen, such as:

• Define Goals and Objectives:
  Before tackling virtualization, IT and management should define its business objectives and determine what business problems or new services the company wants to provide or enable.
  
  
• Conduct a data center audit:
  IT then needs to get a complete inventory of network assets and analyze application demands running on the servers. This information is used to determine where consolidation works best and to create a server consolidation plan.
  
  
• Consolidate and Virtualize your data center:
  You may want to check out Cisco Unified Computing System as a way to decouple scale from complexity. A Cisco UCS will help to radically reduce the number of devices requiring setup, management, power/cooling, and cabling. Whether the system has 1 server or 320 servers with thousands of virtual machines, all resources participate in a unified management domain designed to reduce cost and complexity and provide rapid provisioning with mobility support.
  
  
• Gain visibility and control through a single point of management:
  Cisco UCS Manager Software, embedded into a switch, allows IT to access the system through a common browser such as Internet Explorer. From here, IT can program every aspect of the system’s configuration and change assets as needed using automated rules and policies that operate across physical hardware, virtualized, and cloud computing environments. Access and management may be conducted remotely from any IP device, including an iPhone.

 

After virtualizing servers, IT then optimizes storage and back up recovery systems, and virtualizes security. As the previously inefficient physical network migrates to virtual technology and into a single dynamic system, your infrastructure is now prepared to move to the cloud.

Have you begun moving any applications to the cloud? 

 

Is E-mail on its way out?

 

While attending a virtualization panel discussion three years ago, a question was asked of the panel: “with email on its way out, how are you preparing for the shift in the way we work?” The Panel was taken back by the question and their responses to the interesting question were vague. Three years later and still using email, the question of when email is going to drop down the list of business’s preferred way of communicating is back. However, with the rise of Instant Messaging in the workplace, this time the question is more realistic

lol, ttyl, rofl

Instant Messaging (IM), dates back to the mid 1960s. Today it is moving out from behind the stigma of TTYLs and ROFLs of teens and making its way into the business setting. IM is an efficient way of real-time communication that can enable more than just messaging. Today’s communication clients enable file sharing, video, and presence over the Internet. IM provides faster, cost effective and more efficient communication; but can it survive in the corporate world? With the growing irritation of spam mail and the need for more bandwidth and storage, IM clients are looking more appealing than ever before to the business world.

IM isn’t a new communication tool for businesses. Real-time chatting has been making its way into the 9 to 5 for sometime, although it hasn’t always been seen in the best light. To some IM is seen as unproductive and risky. With the advent of corporate-grade IM clients like Cisco Systems’ Jabber, risks can be mitigated, security can be addressed, and user controls can be put in place.

Why IM?

Real time interaction. The presence capabilities allow users to see who is available at any given time once the user is logged on. For example, if a bank only has six loan officers available for fielding calls, a telephone operator can look at their “presence”, see who is free and connect the customer immediately. No more unbearable hold times or leaving voicemails – only a helped customer.

Save time and effort. IM helps internal users’ productivity by reducing the time and effort required to complete tasks and get answers. IM eliminates the lag time in email and phone call response time. When used properly, if a user is available you type a quick message, hit send and a few seconds later you are in touch with the messages’ recipient.

 

Hear it from an expert.

We caught up with Jason Shearer, Cisco Collaboration expert to weigh in on IM.

Q: How do you know if your business will benefit from an IM client?

Jason: Enterprise IM is more than just having a buddy list. It is all about identifying the best way to communicate with your co-workers and business partners through the power of presence.  When we integrate an IM client into business phone communication systems it becomes the jumping off point for all of your communication tools…voice, video, IM, presence, voicemail and conferencing in one application.

Q: What are the top three things to consider when choosing an IM client?

Jason: When you are evaluating an IM client it is important to look at how it will be integrated into your business. More and more companies are moving towards a mobile workforce and IM/Presence functionality is a perfect compliment to the nomadic worker. Another important factor is the variety of devices a platform supports. Employees today want to user devices they are comfortable with rather than something mandated by corporate without sacrificing features. A final aspect to consider is intercompany communication. As the world gets smaller our workforce expects to be able to communicate outside their company walls with customers, partners and suppliers. It is critical that a IM/Presence platform supports this while still maintaining enterprise features like branding and control of compliance.

Q: What is your favorite IM feature?

Jason: My favorite feature is mobility. No matter where I am I know I’ll be able to communicate with my partners and co-workers over IM, voice and video. Any device, anywhere, anytime.

So, is email really headed out? The quick answer is no. However, the way the business world communicates is changing at a more rapid rate than ever before. The want to have a real-time channel is driven by our need to get answers five seconds ago, and IM clients like Jabber are providing these outlets.

Does your company have any corporate IM solution in place?

In in to WIN it!

“We are not here to participate. We are not here to compete. We are here to WIN!”

 

By now the hash tag CISCOSP12 must be trending worldwide on Twitter. #CISCOPS12 represents the chatter surrounding Cisco’s Partner Summit (CPS), which is happening this week in San Diego, CA. For those not plugged into the annual gathering of Cisco partners, let’s get you up to speed!

Cisco Partner Summit is the exclusive, invite-only conference for Cisco partners to gather together and learn about the company’s strategy and technologies.  The event is geared towards giving partners with the knowledge to lead the way in solving business problems for customers. Being a Cisco Gold Certified Partner, BCI is in attendance as well as attending virtually.

This year’s theme, “In it to Win it” sets the tone for the Opening Ceremonies where Keith Goodwin, Cisco SVP, Worldwide Partner Organization welcomed everyone and kicked off the first keynote. Shortly after, John Chambers, Cisco CEO, took the stage. Wow! If you ever have the chance (live or virtual) to listen to him speak, please do so– he is electric! John touched on several hot topics ranging from team quality to market transitions and differentiation.

Here are 5 takeaways from John Chambers’s keynote that we can use everyday in our professional and personal lives:

 

1)   Educate – In the technology industry, rapid rates of change are normal. Keep yourself and your customers up to date with industry information, products and trends. Knowledge is power.

2)   Inspire – Be the agent of change that ignites passion in others.

3)   Listen – Recognize that knowledge and wisdom come from listening rather than talking. Intuitive listeners are interested in the message behind the story and the opportunity beyond the issue.

4)   Share Success – Every effort begins energy and ideas and ends with action or results - usually coming from more than one person. Surround yourself with quality people and win together.

5)   Have Fun – Often getting caught up in projects and deadlines, having fun is easy to forget. It’s important to remind ourselves that work does not have to be boring and solemn to be efficient.

 

Awesome Quotes from the Keynote:

“We are not here to participate. We are not here to compete. We are here to WIN!”

    -  Keith Goodwin, Cisco SVP Worldwide Partner Organization

 

“Video will be the next voice.”

“Take the risk out of the customers’ hands.”

    -  John Chambers, Cisco CEO

 

The Cloud - Debunked: Part 2

 

Disillusion, Enlightenment and Productivity

The technology industry is based on creating, improving and evolving technologies. Each year, dozens of new technologies are invented; some stick, some come and go and come back again and others never get off the ground. These days, it’s all about the cloud and how the concept will fare over time.

HYPE CYCLE vs. CLOUD

The Hype Cycle is Gartner’s annual cross industry study on emerging technologies and trends. The technologies featured are usually hot industry topics; some recent technologies on the cycle include: virtualization, dedicated email services, software as a service (SaaS) and real-time infrastructure.  The Hype Cycle is based on time and 5 stages Gartner has created to track the adoption rate of the technology. The stages begin with Technology Trigger, then Peak of Inflated Expectations, Trough of Disillusionment, Slope of Enlightenment, and end with the Plateau of Productivity.

According to Gartner, cloud computing has reached the top of the Peak of the Inflated Expectations stage on the Emerging Technologies Hype Cycle, which means, cloud computing is being adopted and its impact is expanding despite wide spread confusion surrounding the topic.

DISILLUSION

The next stage on the Hype Cycle is the Trough of Disillusionment. This stage poses the idea that cloud computing is not the cure all for IT but an enabling platform. The cloud’s silver lining is enabling a business’ agility by helping them meet the demands of their customers in real time. For example, an accounting firm no longer has to invest in servers and bandwidth that will only be used during tax season - its most demanding annual peak time. Through a cloud service provider, the firm can “rent” the necessary infrastructure to get through April 15th and reduce capacity afterwards. With cloud computing, businesses can run lean by reducing spending and investing in expensive equipment that will most likely be under-utilized.

ENLIGHTENMENT

Once users realize how and where to leverage cloud computing, the technology will begin to move towards the next stage, entitled Slope of Enlightenment. Simply put, more businesses will be using cloud computing and actually be able to report a return on investment.

PRODUCTIVITY

The Plateau of Productivity, or mainstream adoption, is the final stage on the cycle. Gartner predicts this will happen over the next 2 to 5 years. As the industry progresses to mainstream adoption, more IT technologies will be available as a service, causing service provider competition to rise. In addition, improved standards and regulations will be put into place to stabilize the market and help protect consumers.

BALANCE

Cloud computing is currently and will continue to change how we utilize technology. It is important for businesses to acknowledge that they still have a need for traditional IT and that in order to leverage IT as a service, certain infrastructure and bandwidth capabilities are required. Finding the balance of which applications to “place” in the cloud is what will be the differentiator for businesses.

The bottom line is that early adopters will be able to learn how to leverage cloud computing properly, deliver measurable results, report a strong ROI and out perform their under prepared competition.

 

Has cloud computing met your expectations thus far?

 

The Virtual CIO, today's IT difference maker

 

 

The Virtual CIO, today's IT difference maker.

Business managers are faced with daily challenges that require quick decisions; having the right tools in place to provide accurate information is vital to making the right choices. Some of the tools may include: managers, financial reporting, benchmark scoring, technology and customer service data. Technology can be the difference in helping to make more calculated decisions by providing efficiency, intelligence and productivity to the right business strategy.

 

Just as the technology industry is transforming into a more consumption-based model, so is the IT professional industry. Small and medium sized businesses now have access to experienced c-level IT professionals through today’s IT difference maker, the Virtual Chief Information Officer (vCIO).  These professionals are experienced, unbiased, and on demand executives who can be an extension of one’s staff.  A vCIO’s role is to help leverage the power of technology to set your business apart from the competition.

 

What does a vCIO do?  A vCIO acts as a trusted adviser, similar to the role of financial planner or CPA, but for IT.  This person provides guidance for a business’ IT strategy and daily operations.  More importantly, vCIOs provide input and experienced based insight, ensuring the technology direction and purchases being made make sense for the business. 

 

3 BIG benefits of a vCIO:

1. Perspective. The vCIO provides a perspective on how current strategies align with business goals to ensure that what has been established is taking place. For example, scheduled data backups are actually taking place, anti-virus software is updated and network patches are current.  
2. Bi-Lingual. A vCIO speaks both IT and business language. They understand how server sprawl, cloud bursting and SaaS applications all affect ROI and what can be done to spend more effectively; they relate to both sides of the business and understand how each interacts. This can be key for bridging the gap between management and the IT staff.  
3. Advanced Technology.  vCIOs bring years of knowledge and insight into complex IT applications. If you are considering cloud computing, a virtualization or collaboration project, engage with a vCIO. He or she can help you uncover possible areas that need attention before a project begins or identify a more cost effective path to achieving that goal. 

I already have an IT manager.  Most IT managers are focused on day-to-day operations, dealing with user issues and making sure all applications and systems are functioning properly. IT managers devote 100% of their focus to operational functions and have little time to concentrate on process improvement, technology acquisition and capital investment. A vCIO can see beyond the daily operations and help steer businesses down the right path. 

Enlisting a vCIO can bridge the gap between technology, management and the daily users.  Having a vCIO on staff can help reduce current IT spending, prepare for the future and leverage technology never before utilized all leading towards a competitive advantage.

Would you benefit from having a vCIO on your staff?

 

The Bottom Line on Storage Virtualization

The Bottom Line on Storage Virtualization

As the growth in data and digital files continues to scale exponentially, storage capacity must keep pace. Storage virtualization enables organizations to drive more users on existing platforms and delivers payoffs to the bottom line that strained IT budgets will appreciate.

Virtualizing storage works in a similar fashion to server virtualization by pooling physical storage from multiple network storage devices into what appears as a single storage device managed from a central console. Once in place, storage virtualization solutions can help IT administrators perform backups, archiving and recovery more easily and in less time by disguising the actual complexity of the storage area network (SAN).

Beyond simplified management, some of the payoffs from storage virtualization include:

• Increased process efficiency: Typically, utilization rates on different storage subsystems are not consistent. By throwing a virtualization layer across your backend storage resources, you have more flexibility in how you access and use them across multiple different arrays. This allows for thin provisioning of storage on the fly, reclaiming storage and pooling resources.
  
  
• More Flexibility and Scale: A traditional storage environment will only allow you to provision a finite amount of storage. With storage virtualization in place, you can provision just the right amount of virtual storage on the fly and increase or decrease that amount as needed. This capability enables you to reclaim previously unused disk capacity.
  
  
• Cost Avoidance: Higher resource utilization with one storage array to manage with one interface can mean putting off a huge investment in a new $500,000 storage array, for example. In this down economy, the ability to delay capital expense is welcome relief for many budget-challenged IT departments.

Storage virtualization can also foster even more ambitious goals in addition to the payoffs we’ve outlined above. Two examples include a greatly increased ability to deploy virtualization elsewhere in the organization and using it as a kick-off point for network convergence. The payoffs from storage virtualization serve as proof that the traditional silo approach to data infrastructure adds costs and complexity to data center infrastructure that’s no longer feasible.

Essentially, storage virtualization software reduces capital (CAPEX) and operating (OPEX) expenses. The bottom line is that storage virtualization solutions can lower total cost of storage and empower the full business value of virtualization—most notably efficiency, flexibility and scale—while containing costs and minimizing disruptions to the business.

Thinking about virtual storage? Post your questions in the comment box and have our virtual storage expert answer them.

 

 

BYOD in the Workplace

“Look what I got for Christmas!”

Although the holidays are long gone, those six words are still affecting IT managers months into the new year.  Then come the next eight words “When can you connect it to our network?” - turning the awe factor into a network nightmare. The excitement surrounding the latest cool gadget quickly dissolves into concerns of security, compliance, control, support, and “will this thing even work?”

The long awaited (and dreaded) day of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) is upon us and it is here to stay.  The concept is not new even if the practice is in its infancy. The recent explosion in smart phones, pads, and tablet computers has thrust these issues to the forefront of all organizations. In fact, by 2014 Gartner predicts, “90 percent of all organizations will support corporate applications on personal devices.”  Not so long ago, IT was able to dictate systems and software used in business in an effort to set standards for security, compliance, control, and support which helped to control cost.  BYOD is a game changer for this model.

The New Model

A current trend driving BYOD is organizations giving their employees a budget to purchase their own device. This places the responsibility on the IT Team to ensure it will work with the company systems.  IT can either fight BYOD or embrace it.  Even if IT chooses to rebel against BYOD, end users have multiple cloud options for storage and collaboration and may choose to circumvent policies, opening up the company to unknown risk. If IT chooses to embrace BYOD, they will see that their end users fall right inline and essentially cooperate when they see that their needs being met.  As time progresses, BYOD will become commonplace - the question remains, will your IT department be proactive or reactive? 

If your organization is thinking about implementing or transitioning to a BYOD program, here are some points to think about when developing a BYOD strategy.

Implement Network Access Control (NAC) Having NAC technology in place implements a certain set of protocols to address endpoints (computers, tablets, mobile devices) before they can access the network.  In a nutshell, NAC will not allow any endpoint to access the network unless it complies with the predefined policy. Typical NAC policies include anti-virus protection level, system update level, employee credentials and configuration. For example, if you were an accountant trying to access client files from your company database, NAC would evaluate your current anti-virus level and employee credentials before allowing you to access the shared company database. The value NAC brings is allowing more control over endpoints that may lack updated anti-virus, patches and other host intrusion software that could place more vulnerability on the network.

 Develop and Communicate Security Standards Clearly define and communicate the security requirements for individual devices, pre-approved configuration policies, and most importantly the steps employees need to take in order to properly connect their device to the network. This will help the IT Team keep track of the devices and let employees know what is and is not acceptable.

Examples of Security Standards:

• Users may not store company data through cloud services on personal devices (i.e. Drop box, iCloud, etc).
• Personal devices must have a screen lock password and must time out or go inactive after not being used for 15 minutes.
• Company may remotely wipe the personal device if the device is lost, stolen or if the employee departs the company (voluntarily or involuntarily).

Responsibility Think of BYOD as a partnership between the company and the employee with both parties have different end goals and responsibilities. Dave Merrill, IBM Endpoint Security Strategist points out “while technologies can play the enforcement role by ensuring that all enterprise data is protected per security requirements, a successful BYOD program requires that employees acknowledge and embrace the need for controls that are now enforced on their devices.” Although this part is not easy, employee buy-in is vital when implementing a BYOD program.

Read more from Dave on BYOD via his post Things that matter: BYOD and the Enterprise on the IBM Institute for Advanced Security blog.

 

 It’s time for you weigh in: To BYOD? Or not to BYOD?

School Data Systems Need Backup and Recovery

                      
               

School Data Systems Need Backup and Recovery

 

It all starts with a plan.

Creating a comprehensive plan to protect school data should be as commonplace as executing a school fire drill. Although the reporting of state and federal test scores drives much of the concern about school data, a major system crash can paralyze basic and essential school functions such as teacher grade books, class schedules, library catalogs, and even school lunch operations.

Threats to servers can come from many origins, including the local weather and geography, a district’s electrical grid, potential for theft, vandalism, hacking, and more. Based on the possible variances for your school’s environment, it’s important for you to craft a data crisis response plan unique to your school’s needs.

By developing an understanding of the demands that different threats can put on your data systems, your school will be able to reduce risk and increase confidence that an incident will not become a disaster.

Five Tips to Improve Backup and Disaster Recovery Plans:

1. Prioritize Your Data
   Backing up data on remote servers or via tape backup can be expensive. If you have to choose, decide what a day’s data is worth to your school district. Then determine which data is most important for recovering school operations, should the need to do so occur.
2. Perform Periodic Testing
   It’s surprising how many schools put backup processes in place, but don’t test them regularly to make sure they’re working as they should be. Even if you contract with a vendor, make sure they have a backup plan and do spot checks to verify that the backup is working as planned.
3. Plan for Specific Scenarios
   Despite best efforts to plan, some threats will come to fruition. Consider the types of threats that exist in your area and conceive plans for recovery should such a situation occur. Just because a threat actually happens, doesn’t mean it can’t be recovered from efficiently.
4. Mitigate Onsite Risks
   There are also some steps that can be taken at your facility to improve your odds against a data loss. For example, consider the possibility of moving servers to more secure rooms and make sure that no single point of failure exists on your network.
5. Updates are Critical                                                                                                     Make sure your operating systems and software have the latest updates and patches installed to protect against vulnerabilities. At the rate new viruses are conceived, you can’t afford not to.

Finally, realize that you don’t have to go it alone. There are managed services providers, like us (BCI) who can partner with you to assess your current data systems and backup plans, identify risks and help you to ensure that you’re prepared to respond quickly and competently in the event recovery is needed.

 

Video Goes Mainstream in the Workplace

Video Goes Mainstream in the Workplace – Are you ready?

 

 

Over the last five years, video technology has evolved, removing the frustrations and difficulties with using it and transforming it into a mainstream tool for business communications and content sharing.

Examples of the changes that are helping to mainstream video include:

• IP systems that enable video with minimal need for configuration, making it user friendly.
• Accessibility and affordability of devices used to record and share video (smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.). All you need is an Internet connection.
• Ease of use to make video calls – most times as simple as pressing a button.
• Integration with unified communications and collaboration systems.
• Live and on-demand video is higher quality, increasing satisfaction with the experience.

Given all these changes, the value proposition for video has moved far beyond reduced travel to include increased productivity, faster time to market, training, knowledge sharing and improved customer satisfaction. Essentially, video is moving from a technology-centric solution to a people-centric one.

Getting the most of video, today, will require some cultural shifts as new use cases are adopted. Enhancing the use of and ROI of video requires that companies look beyond the traditional application for workforce collaboration.

Consider the benefits available from using video to share organizational communications in a more personalized way through video that provides employees the same message experience whether they’re in the home office, or another location.

The logistics and costs of events and conferences are exponentially difficult, taking employees away from their jobs when they can gain the same experience virtually. Rather than limiting the event to only those who can physically attend, video access can attract a broader audience.

Corporate training becomes more efficient and cost effective when it can be offered through either a live video conference or on-demand for staff unable to attend the live session. According to Yankee Group, the benefits of business video are more valuable than you may think.

• Participants learn 200% more with video than with audio alone.
• Video participants absorb information up to 40% faster than with voice communications.
• Attendees of video conferences retain 38% more information than with audio calls.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly for your company, Yankee Group states that video increases the power of persuasion by 43% over audio or written communications.

The upshot is that video increases the overall impact of communications by 67%, while audio only increases impact by only 23%.

Download the Yankee Group paper, Building a Video-First Culture in Your Business, to learn more about the steps to take to gain the advantages possible from using video productively in your business.  

 

Technology Powers the Potential of Healthcare

While healthcare providers have always been focused on controlling costs, the provision of equitable access to health services and improving the patient care experience are now claiming more attention—along with developing new sources of revenue. Facilitating those goals requires that healthcare CIOs empower clinicians, nurses and care providers with collaboration technology that helps them put the required skill sets “in the room,” efficiently and securely access and manage patient information, and develop new models of care delivery.

In this brief video, Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn, vice president of Learning@Cisco, and Frances Dare, director, Cisco IBSG Global Healthcare Practice, discuss the transformations taking place in the healthcare industry.

 

A Princeton Survey Research Associates International survey found that the top three Telehealth approaches considered to have the most potential during the next five years include:

1. Health professionals electronically sharing or accessing diagnostic images, video, or patient biometric data to consult on diagnosis and treatment.
2. Health professionals collaborating with each other via information and communication technologies to diagnose and treat patients.
3. Providing clinical training and clinical references for health professionals by using information and communication technologies.

Putting the right skills “in the room” is the core element for all three Telehealth approaches in the list above. Here are several examples of the technology powering the processes needed to turn the potential into reality:

• Presence, a feature of unified communications, enables medical teams to find and connect with clinicians who have the expertise to consult on diagnosis and treatment.
• Video conferencing solutions, such as Cisco WebEx, enable doctors and clinicians to make “virtual house calls” to patients in rural areas and remote locations around the world. It also allows health professionals to collaborate with each other and to share images and data to improve diagnosis and designing treatment.
• Video collaboration portals, such as Cisco Show and Share, provide a secure portal where training can be accessed by health professionals on demand, providing self-paced learning they can fit into their busy schedules.
• A unified wireless network ensures the continuous availability of patient information and enables nurses and clinicians to access it from a patient’s bedside easily—without spending inordinate amounts of time logging in and out of systems.

The technology exists today to power the transformation of patient care without risking the security of patient information. Promoting efficiency and productivity is not just about moving data faster, but about enabling approaches with the potential to generate new business models, improve patient satisfaction, and develop new care models that source revenues.

What are some new trends in healthcare IT that you’re seeing emerge?