Top 5 Challenges in Cloud Migration for Healthcare and How to Overcome Them
As patient data grows exponentially and the demand for real-time access to information intensifies, healthcare organizations are looking skyward to the cloud — for scalable, secure, and agile solutions.
In recent years, cloud migration for healthcare has evolved from a cutting-edge trend to a strategic necessity.
A survey by DuploCloud found that 94% of healthcare professionals who completed a cloud migration would recommend it, and 84% said maintaining compliance became easier post-migration. But cloud migration of data isn’t trivial, especially healthcare data that is sensitive and private.
Healthcare systems are intricate ecosystems, heavily regulated and dependent on legacy systems and infrastructure.
Migrating to the cloud offers immense benefits — enhanced data sharing, reduced costs, improved patient care but it can pose serious challenges too.
Here, we explore the top 5 challenges in cloud migration for healthcare and offer actionable strategies to overcome them.
Whether you’re a CIO at a hospital network or a tech consultant in the health sector, this guide will help you navigate the stormy skies of digital transformation.
1. Regulatory Compliance and Data Privacy
The Challenge:
Healthcare data is among the most sensitive in existence. There are significant concerns regarding its privacy as well.
With regulations like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) in the U.S., GDPR in Europe, and other regional privacy laws, healthcare organizations must ensure that their cloud environments comply with strict regulatory frameworks.
Migrating to the cloud often involves multiple stakeholders and third-party vendors, which increases the complexity of maintaining compliance across the board.
How to Overcome It:
Choose a healthcare-compliant cloud provider: Cloud giants like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud offer HIPAA-eligible services, but eligibility isn’t the same as compliance. Make sure they sign Business Associate Agreements (BAAs).
Implement end-to-end encryption: Both in-transit and at-rest encryption are essential. Employ tools for data anonymization and tokenization where needed.
Conduct regular audits: Perform compliance audits and penetration testing to ensure that data privacy is never compromised.
Train your staff: Even the most secure systems are vulnerable to human error. Ongoing security awareness training is crucial.
2. Legacy Systems & Data Integration
The Challenge:
Most healthcare institutions run on legacy systems — think on-premise servers, custom-built electronic health record (EHR) software, or outdated hardware. These systems weren’t built with cloud compatibility in mind, and migrating them isn’t as simple as flipping a switch.
Worse, trying to lift-and-shift incompatible systems into a cloud environment can result in downtime, data loss, or performance issues.
These systems often store critical patient data in formats that are difficult to migrate. Integrating disparate systems—like EHRs, billing software, and imaging systems into a cohesive cloud environment is a complex task during cloud migration for healthcare.
How to Overcome It:
Conduct a full IT inventory: Identify which applications and systems are cloud-ready, which need refactoring, and which should be retired.
Use hybrid cloud models: Hybrid architectures allow you to keep certain workloads on-premise while gradually migrating others to the cloud.
Adopt a Phased Migration Approach: Instead of a full-scale migration, move systems incrementally. Start with non-critical applications to test compatibility and address issues before migrating sensitive data.
Leverage APIs: Use application programming interfaces (APIs) to enable interoperability between legacy systems and cloud platforms, ensuring smooth data flow.
Engage experienced cloud migration partners. Third-party vendors with healthcare experience can help with re-platforming and containerization, ensuring smoother transitions.
3. Data Security Threats and Cyberattacks
The Challenge:
Cybersecurity risks increase dramatically during cloud migration, especially in the healthcare sector. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, healthcare breaches affected over 100 million individuals in 2023 alone.
Migrating data can expose vulnerabilities. Phishing attacks, ransomware, and insider threats are all real risks when sensitive PHI (Protected Health Information) is in flux.
How to Overcome It:
Adopt a zero-trust architecture: Never assume anything within or outside your network is secure. Use identity verification and access controls at every level.
Leverage AI-driven security tools: These tools can detect anomalies in real time, helping to thwart attacks before they cause damage.
Backup critical data: Before any migration process, ensure redundant, encrypted backups are in place.
Create an incident response plan: If something goes wrong — and sometimes it will — having a response plan in place can mean the difference between a hiccup and a disaster.
4. Disruption to Patient Care and Operations
The Challenge:
Healthcare is a 24/7/365 operation. Downtime during cloud migration can interrupt critical services, delay patient treatments, and even endanger lives. For hospitals, even a few minutes of downtime can be catastrophic.
Staff may also struggle to adapt to new systems, leading to workflow inefficiencies and frustration.
How to Overcome It:
Plan the migration in phases: Avoid a big-bang migration approach. Migrate less critical systems first and monitor performance before moving on.
Schedule during off-peak hours: Perform migrations during nights or weekends when patient activity is lower.
Run parallel systems: Maintain on-premise systems while testing new cloud systems to ensure no data or functionality is lost.
Train and support staff: Offer hands-on training, Q&A sessions, and 24/7 support during and after the transition.
5. Budget Overruns and Hidden Costs
The Challenge:
Cloud migration is often seen as a cost-saving measure, but hidden costs can add up quickly. Expenses related to data transfer, refactoring, compliance, training, and ongoing cloud management can quickly balloon beyond initial projections.
Without clear visibility, what started as a budget-friendly cloud initiative can become a financial burden.
How to Overcome It:
Create a detailed cost forecast: Include migration costs, cloud service fees, third-party tools, and ongoing operational expenses.
Choose a pay-as-you-go model: This helps reduce upfront investment while allowing scalability.
Use cloud cost management tools: Solutions like AWS Cost Explorer or Azure Cost Management provide real-time insights into usage and expenses.
Audit and optimize post-migration: Review which services are underused or over-provisioned and rightsize accordingly.
Final Thoughts: Healthcare Transformation
Cloud migration for healthcare is more than a technical challenge — it’s a cultural and operational transformation.
From healthcare software and lab systems to telemedicine platforms and AI diagnostics, every component of modern healthcare can be enhanced with cloud capabilities.
Cloud migration for healthcare will play a pivotal role in enabling innovation, improving patient outcomes, and driving operational efficiency.
By proactively addressing these challenges, organizations can ensure a smooth transition to the cloud and position themselves for success in a digital-first future.
Kreyon Systems understands the unique demands of healthcare to create secure, compliant and seamless solutions. For any queries, please contact us.