In this Issue:

- Summary

- Overview

- Cloud

- Use

- Security

- Privacy

- Functions

- Availability

- Performance

- Location

- Services

- Continuity

- Remedies

- Excerpt from Summary: An increasing number of hospitals and other health care providers are outsourcing the hosting and maintenance of software applications, the storage of data and related support services. Outsourcing can provide cost savings, rapid deployment, system scalability, other efficiencies and appropriate data security. It also introduces additional issues into the provider’s risk management analysis, largely based on the fact that a third party rather than the provider has possession and control of vital and sensitive assets and information. This paper identifies top issues for a provider to address in deciding whether to outsource a particular application and on what terms and conditions it will do so.