Partner POV | The Future of Enterprise Imaging and AI-driven Infrastructure

This article was written by Eric Mueller-Kessler, Client Director at Pure Storage. 

Medical imaging is a critical and data-intensive component of healthcare operations. See how organizations can navigate the evolving data management landscape to enhance operational efficiency and patient care.

Summary

Healthcare organizations face significant challenges managing ever-growing volumes of imaging data. FlashArray and FlashBlade deliver the innovative capabilities required to address the demands of AI, cybersecurity, and enterprise imaging.

The healthcare sector is undergoing a data revolution driven by the immense volume and complexity of imaging data. With 3.6 billion exams conducted annually and generating approximately 450 petabytes (PB) of data, managing and retaining this data for an average of 10 years presents significant challenges. Furthermore, imaging contributes to 37% of a hospital's revenue, making it a critical component of healthcare operations. 

As traditional storage solutions struggle to meet these demands, Pure Storage's innovative technologies offer a transformative approach that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and modern data practices, ensuring efficient and effective patient care.

AI and the Evolution of Data Storage

Adapting to AI Demands

The adoption of AI across industries has redefined data management needs. Traditional storage infrastructures, designed for isolated workloads, are insufficient for the continuous, extensive data flows required by AI applications. Organizations must break down data silos to feed AI models with comprehensive and accurate data, which is essential for maintaining competitive advantages and optimizing AI-driven outcomes​​.

Cybersecurity and Sustainability

Modern data infrastructures must also address rising cyber threats and comply with sustainability practices. The increasing sophistication of cyberattacks, particularly ransomware, necessitates robust data protection strategies. Concurrently, there is a growing need for storage solutions that promote environmental sustainability and efficient, scalable data management​​.

Elevating Enterprise Imaging with FlashArray and FlashBlade

Performance and Speed

Pure Storage systems are a game-changer for enterprise imaging, offering consistent single-millisecond latency, crucial for timely medical diagnoses and effective patient care. They reduce read latency by up to 50%, allowing clinicians to perform more imaging studies and supporting tens of thousands of simultaneous requests—a necessity for the growing volume of digital medical data​​. Additionally, they enable device-independent 3D rendering with industry-leading performance, enhancing the capabilities of imaging applications.

Data Reduction and Cost Efficiency

FlashArray™ and FlashBlade® excel in data reduction, achieving a 1.5:1 ratio for DICOM images, which optimizes storage use and reduces costs. This data reduction is vital for handling the large file sizes typical of medical imaging, like CT and MRI scans, without compromising image quality​​. Furthermore, lower total cost of ownership (TCO) is achieved through reduced power, cooling, and rack space requirements, making FlashArray and FlashBlade cost-effective solutions for healthcare organizations.

Data Protection and Resiliency

Data protection is paramount in healthcare, and Pure Storage® SafeMode™ Snapshots offer immutable backups to guard against cyberattacks like ransomware, ensuring continuous data availability​​. This feature supports compliance with data retention policies and allows for the recovery of critical data in case of failures, maintaining the integrity and availability of essential medical information.

The New Principles of Modern Data Infrastructure

Unified and Scalable Platforms

Pure Storage advocates for a unified data platform that scales seamlessly across various enterprise needs. The unified block and file capabilities of FlashArray and the object and file capabilities of FlashBlade facilitate integration into existing IT infrastructures, supporting growing imaging volumes and busy healthcare professionals​​. This scalable architecture accommodates flexible global resource pools and simplifies workload consolidation on a single platform, enhancing operational efficiency.

Cost-effective and Future-ready

The Evergreen® storage model from Pure Storage offers a subscription-based approach that eliminates disruptive upgrade cycles and significantly reduces TCO​​​​. This model ensures continuous access to the latest storage advancements without incurring substantial financial or operational challenges while future-proofing the organization's data infrastructure.

The Pure Storage Data Platform: A Future-proof Investment for Healthcare IT

As organizations navigate the evolving landscape of data management, Pure Storage provides innovative solutions that address the demands of AI, cybersecurity, and enterprise imaging. FlashArray and FlashBlade enable businesses to unlock the full potential of their data, streamline operations, and maintain a competitive edge while ensuring cost-efficiency and sustainability. Pure Storage's forward-looking approach positions it as a leader in the next generation of data infrastructure, ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow.

By embracing Pure Storage's advanced solutions, organizations can ensure they are not just keeping pace with technological advancements but leading the charge into the future of data management.