The IT Network

Infrastructure
Revolution in
Healthcare

FEBRUARY 2021

Authors:
Adriana Allocato
Research Manager, Health Insights

Silvia Piai
Research Director, Health Insights

IDC #EUR147449521

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ACCELERATION OF IT NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE
MODERNISATION IS CRUCIAL TO STRIVE AND SURVIVE
IN THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE
The pace of digital network modernisation has ramped up to address the emerging needs
of the healthcare ecosystem, which a traditional legacy infrastructure cannot keep up with.

Healthcare providers
Accelerated Fuelled by COVID-19, digitally
deployment of enabled remote care will drive
need to prioritise
telehealth/virtual 70% growth in spending on an IT infrastructure
visits, chatbot connected health technologies modernisation strategy.
assessments and
by providers and life science Legacy healthcare systems
VIRTUAL remote health
HEALTH monitoring
companies by 2023. are limited in terms of modern
functionalities and connectivity and
can’t support innovative business and
Source: IDC Health Insights FutureScape 2021
organisational settings.

63% of European healthcare

Simplifying everyday providers’ IT budgets are allocated to
31% of EU healthcare
tasks to enhance maintain or upgrade existing systems.
operational efficiencies:
providers consider workflow
Source: IDC European Tech and Industry
manage the virtual modernisation a top priority Pulse Survey, 2019–2020 (healthcare)

environments and to improve operational efficiency. These emerging trends

streamline/redefine need the support of high-
WORKFLOW workflows with minimal
OPTIMISATION performing IT networks
disruption Source: IDC Multicloud Survey, 2020 (n = 71) able to scale on demand.

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A MODERN NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE CREATES THE
AGILITY REQUIRED FOR DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Healthcare organisations are focusing on their infrastructure Complete visibility into the network user’s experience, along with
modernisation to lay the foundation of a new digital healthcare AI-driven troubleshooting tools to speed problem resolution, made
ecosystem. Network modernisation will help healthcare providers Juniper Mist the right choice for Queen Elisabeth Institute.
deliver on their priorities and objectives. Around 43% of European Stefaan Dewulf, IT architect, KEI
healthcare providers are investing in modern IT infrastructure.

FLEXIBILITY PERFORMANCE OPTIMISATION EFFICIENCY SECURITY

Keeping pace with a rapidly Increasing access to clinical Managing a vast amount of Simplifying network Moving workloads to
changing environment to data at the point of care when data quickly, as well as data management and keeping the cloud to separate
include innovative technologies needed to improve resilience transition and delivery, to TCOs in control, for example applications with different
and support any service both and business continuity activate the workflow through by reducing the number of security requirements
clinical and administrative requirements applications for clinicians, switches in the datacentre to
patients and administration deliver operational savings

41% “We will invest

in technology
to close gaps in our digital
50% “Having a
digitally
resilient organisation
31% of EU HCOs
prioritise
the modernisation of
28% of EU HCOs
prioritise
the modernisation of
29% of EU HCOs
have approved
security investment to meet
transformation efforts.” will help us introduce new traditional workloads. datacentre infrastructure to new operational norms
business model innovation.” improve operations. after COVID-19.

IDC Multicloud Survey, 2020 (n = 71)

IDC’s COVID-19 Impact on IT Spending Survey, worldwide IDC #EUR147449521 IDC Infobite Sponsored by
CLOUD-BASED NETWORKING ENSURES HIGHER
RESILIENCE AND BUSINESS CONTINUITY WHILE
CONNECTING AND SECURING APPLICATIONS END TO END
Healthcare organisations are increasingly To gain efficiencies, optimise workflows,
considering cloud when: lower the costs associated with healthcare
• Upgrading, expanding or replacing datacentres delivery and offer personalisation in care
• Modernising, transforming or replatforming key applications plans to improve outcomes.
• Business demands more agility or speed from IT

This is supporting every business need across the journey to

resilience and digital transformation.

% of healthcare organisations considering cloud

as a key technology across the different stages of Cloud networking Cloud networking Cloud networking
return to growth and innovation for operational for workforce for patient
efficiency experience experience
59% 34% of European 63% of European 30% of European
46% 47% 39%
healthcare providers healthcare providers have healthcare providers have
use hybrid cloud adopted cloud-based adopted cloud networking
for IT infrastructure productivity platforms for patient data specific
24% management. to improve workforce solutions (EHR, medical
experience. imaging, medical
Source: IDC Multicloud
Survey, 2020 information exchange).
Source: IDC EMEA Future of
Work Survey, 2019 Source: IDC European Tech
Business ROI focus Operational Acceleration Innovation and Industry Pulse Survey,
2019–2020 (healthcare)
continuity resilience

Source: IDC EMEA, COVID-19 Impact Survey, Wave 5, May 18–25, European healthcare view n = 30 IDC #EUR147449521 IDC Infobite Sponsored by
SECURITY BY DESIGN TACKLES CHALLENGE OF
GETTING THE BALANCE RIGHT BETWEEN COMPLIANCE
AND BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION
Infrastructures need to be fit for purpose, supporting clinical workflows and patient experience. At the same time, they need to support compliance to data regulations,
keep patient information safe and build trust. To get this balance right, healthcare organisations need to adopt a new layered approach to security to enable scalability,
intelligence and automation.

Key aspects of layered network security technology should include:

The nature of cybersecurity threats is changing.
Hackers are using AI and ML to create more sophisticated,
Containerisation automated attacks. Digital transformation is further
Endpoint security changing cybersecurity requirements, resulting in greater
to prevent threats spreading
to manage vulnerabilities for complexity and a perimeter that is disappearing, and all at
rapidly once they have gained
individual devices an accelerating pace.
access to the network

Healthcare IT executives are looking for

Trust management solutions to address this complexity and help
Identity management to address the fact that users and them become more proactive in managing
to authenticate users and control
resources can reside outside the security risks. In their security strategy:
access
network perimeter

A software-defined
39% of healthcare organisations
will prioritise security
automation and orchestration.
Secure data architecture to provide
exchange
29%
the speed required to keep up of healthcare organisations will
to safeguard data in motion
with digital transformation prioritise the rationalisation of
security tool environments.

Source: IDC, European IT Security Survey 2020 IDC #EUR147449521 IDC Infobite Sponsored by