Utilizing the Cloud in Your Orthodontic Office

Published by Michelle Haupt on Jan 4, 2021

You might be familiar with what we like to call The Ultimate Backup Routine – the routine you go through each day to back up your data, images, and any other important files you need.

You back up your data daily, weekly, and then monthly on external hard drives, and you store those hard drives in a safe, off-site location. You might also cross your fingers and hope that these backups work in the off chance you might need them.

Are you ready to throw that routine out the door and stop worrying about if these backups are good? Then it’s time you consider moving your practice management software to the cloud. There are several reasons why you should consider a cloud solution:

No Servers Needed. When you use a practice management software that utilizes the cloud, you no longer need a server to store your data and imaging information. Instead, your information is stored in an off-site data center. In addition to not worrying about backups, you don’t have to worry about losing data to fire or other natural disasters in your area. Note that only your practice management data will be backed up to the cloud. You need to have back up plans in place for other files such as QuickBooks or internal documents.

Security. Another reason the cloud is an ideal solution, is the security of your information. The data center where your information is stored should be as secure as your online banking solution. The data center Ortho2 uses meets HIPAA and PCI DSS compliance, and is audited annually to meet several criteria to maintain its elevated level of security. Check with your software company to ensure this is true for any information you plan to store in the cloud.

Access. When your office uses a cloud solution, you can access patient information wherever you are on any device. There’s no need to be in the office to find a file, access a server, or look up a patient record. By using a cloud-based software, you can access all of your patient and office information from your home office, the beach, or on they fly when you run into a patient outside of the office.

Cost. Buying and maintaining a server is costly. Not only is there the initial cost of the server, but also the cost to an IT company to maintain it and ensure it runs properly. With a cloud-based software, you are paying significantly less for a data center to host your information for you. You can review a cost analysis to see the savings through a five-year period.

If you are in the market to replace your server, or are wanting less stress while maintaining one, consider a cloud-based solution for your practice management software needs.