The Advantages of Cloud Computing

Steve McEvoy UNC Webinar July 12th_{, 2013}

Cloud Computing

and Your Future

Goals

• To discuss technology in a way that

might actually be useful to you in your future Practice

• Talk will be available online for

download (early next week) so you don’t have to take notes

Cloud Computing

Wikipedia says:

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a metered service over a network (typically the Internet)

Cloud Computing

In-House Server

Hosted Computing

Cloud Computing

Hosted Computing

The Cloud

The industries current favorite Buzzword • Has Momentum

What’s in a Name?

“The Cloud”

– As in “My Backup is in the Cloud”

“Cloud Computing”

– As in “We don’t have a Server, all that work is done using Cloud Computing”

“Cloud Apps”

Cloud Computing

The Hype is exciting, but does any of it really matter to the Orthodontist?

Technology …yum…

What can the Cloud do for You?

• Practices are constantly looking for ways to improve themselves

• Improving your IT is part of that process

• Most would prefer to develop their expertise in Orthodontic matters rather than IT

Cheaper, Faster, Easier

• It’s the Internet right, everything should be simple, fast and free!

• Well if not free, should save money and/or improve performance

Software Maintenance

• Reduce costs by having someone else

tasked to maintain the software, licensing, Servers, backups, etc.

• Trained Experts doing it is probably better than self taught in house expert

Always on Latest Version

• Good to have the latest versions of the apps you use everyday

• Reduce cost by not having to apply updates with internal resources

• Reduced hassle factor

Best Practices

• Setting up and maintaining your software following the ‘best practices’

• Likely to have a better overall result than your own IT having to figure it out and keep up

Hardware Done Better

• It would be difficult and costly to

implement the highly redundant and

secure setup of the Cloud within your own Practice (no downtime goal)

• It should be expected that performance will always be better than minimum and kept current

Typical In House Hardware

Cable Modem

Router

Storage

Doing it Cloud Style

Security

• Security of your Data should be paramount

– Better than your in-house practices

• Locked in a fortress on top of a mountain surrounded by tall walls

– And a moat

Backup Done Right

• Backup of your data should be done better than your Practice is likely doing on its

own.

• Let an expert:

– Know exactly what to backup – Back it up frequently

Disaster Recovery

• Moving to the Cloud is a Disaster Recovery plan (in Advance!)

• What would you do in the event of a Fire/Theft/Flood?

• Using the Cloud you should be able to just get another PC anywhere and get on the Internet somehow and be back in

Extending Life

• Get more life out of your existing PCs

• Processing power is in the Cloud, so your local PCs performance isn’t as important anymore

• If you normally get 5 years of life from a PC, you might be able to get 7 now.

Less Expensive PCs

• When you do need to replace a PC, it doesn’t need to be anything special

Simpler PC Savings

Feature Traditional Cloud Savings Model Optiplex 7010 Optiplex 3010 $      14 

Windows Pro Home $      21 

Processor i5 i3 $      50 

Memory 8GB 4GB $      55 

Video 1GB Basic $      80 

Warranty NBD Pro NBD Basic $      36 

MS Office Business Ed Starter $      173

Total $916  $487  $        429 

• You could save about $429 per PC if buying with the Cloud in mind

Eliminate the ‘Server’

• Traditional Office Server

– Redundant Disks – Holds all the data – Has the backup

– Has power protection – Has software licensing – Needs a geek

Server

Databases Files/Images

Eliminate the ‘Server’

• Most expensive part of your Network

– Just parts and licensing are over $10K – Geek is another $2K • Capital Intensive • 5 year lifespan Dell Server $5,000 UPS $500 Backup System $1,600 SQL 2012 $944 SQL Users $2,187 Server CALs $167 $10,398

Work from Anywhere!

• Doesn’t matter where you access it from, works the same.

• Great for Multi-office Practices

– Reduce the complexity of your office network

• Great for working from Home

– Improve your quality of life by spending less time at the office

• Even while at a study club or meeting

Freedom of Choice

• Choose whether to run on Mac or PC

• PCs are generally cheaper

– Much more prevalent in Dental Specialties

• Mac’s are pretty

Your Cloud Options

• For Practice Management and Imaging

– Ortho2 Edge – Cloud 9 Ortho

– Dolphin Anywhere – Orthotrac Cloud

Skinning the Cat

• Each has taken a different approach • Does it matter?

– A Porsche and Prius both have 4 wheels and get you places. Each is unique and yet

accomplishes the basic goals.

• Consider each on how they meet the

Cost Savings

• Knowing if it will save you money need a thorough consideration of you costs

• No two Practices are the same

• Some situations are a ‘no brainer’, and some are a ‘no way’.

Assumptions

• The life of a PC or Server is 5yrs • We’ll use PCs for the hardware

• Printers, Scanners, etc will be the same either way so can be ignored

Assumptions

• The Network will have 11 PCs

– 2 Reception – 1 Sign-In – 1 Consult – 1 Finance/Admin – 1 Records – 1 Doctor – 4 Chairs

Server Cost Savings

No big expensive Server

• Saves Initial Capital Investment

– $10,328 in hardware and software – $2,000 in Labor to implement

– Totals $12,328 for 5 years = $207 /mo

• Saves on Ongoing Server Maintenance

– Assuming 1 hour per month of IT guy – $155/mo Dell Server $5,000 UPS $500 Backup System $1,600 SQL 2012 $944 SQL Users $2,187 Server CALs $167 $10,398

Workstation Cost Savings

• Being able to buy the more basic PCs • Saves Initial Capital Investment

– $429 per PC for the hardware – Simpler to setup

• saves 1 hr = $155 ea

– $6,424 total for 11 PCs – $108 per month total

• Reduced ongoing Support

– 5 less mins per month per PC = $142 per mo

Feature Traditional Cloud Savings

Model Optiplex 7010 Optiplex 3010 $ 14

Windows Pro Home $ 21

Processor i5 i3 $ 50

Memory 8GB 4GB $ 55

Video 1GB Basic $ 80

Warranty NBD Pro NBD Basic $ 36

MS Office Business Ed Starter $ 173

Other Costs

• Internet Backup

– Assume 50GB less of Data = ~$50 per month

• Internet Connection

– A wash for your primary connection, you’d have one either way

– Add an additional Cost of $50 per month for a secondary service (if you feel you need one)

Other Savings

• Didn’t account for extra savings from:

– Sales Tax – Shipping

– Financing/Money Costs

• Less Hassle Factor = $??? per month

Total Savings

Expense Capital Annual Monthly

Server Hardware/Software $ 10,398 $ 2,080 $ 173 Server Setup Labor $ 2,000 $ 400 $ 33 Reduced Server Support $ 1,860 $ 155 Simpler PCs (11 of them) $ 4,719 $ 944 $ 79 Simpler to Setup PC (11) $ 1,705 $ 341 $ 28 Reduced Workstation Support $ 1,705 $ 142 Internet Backup $ 50

Multi-Office can Save More

• No additional Terminal Server

– Perhaps $6K with setup

• No need for Terminal Server Licensing

– $80 per remote user one time fee

• No need for expensive T1 lines to link the offices

Solutions Comes Standard With

• Peace of Mind that others are focused on:

– Security – Backup

– Monitoring – Updates

• More Time

– Leaves you with more time to use for other things

Is it Right for Your Future?

• Crappy Internet?

– No (for any Cloud option)

• If I was building a new Practice

– Yes (start with a clean slate)

• If I was a new Grad

– Yes (no capital required)

• If I was multi location

– Probably (model for the answer, and most certainly a yes if you have T1 lines)

Is it Right for You?

• If I had an existing network 4+ yrs old

– Maybe (model for the answer)

• If I had a new network already

– Probably not till next time (but model to be sure)

• If I was frustrated with my network or IT

Final Thought

• Choosing a Practice Management Solution is a Religious Decision

– You will live with it a long time

• Once you’ve picked the best tool for your Practice then put in the proper network to support it.

MME’s Blog

AAO Technology Blog

Thank You!

steve@mmeconsulting.com Presentation Online at