From securing personal health information (PHI) to preventing cybersecurity breaches to improving network performance, F5 has been at the forefront of helping the medical world thrive—and our healthcare partnership with Epic, a leading healthcare software provider, is a key part of that equation.
By working together to protect the performance and security of healthcare apps, F5 and Epic are ensuring healthcare providers deliver excellent care. And one recent example is how we joined forces to help a leading Swiss medical care system overcome a major IT challenge.
The medical care system’s outdated load-balancing infrastructure was causing network instability, just as it was about to transition to a new system under a tight deadline. Failure to resolve these issues would jeopardize patient care and expose the company to potential regulatory non-compliance.
This network instability was happening at the worst time possible. With a critical go-live approaching, the Swiss provider’s existing infrastructure couldn't handle the demands of modern healthcare IT. The network instability threatened to disrupt essential medical services, and the stakes were high—delays or downtime could affect patient care and violate privacy laws like HIPAA and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Quickly establishing a resilient infrastructure
F5 BIG-IP Application Services Templates (FAST), which provide an easy and effective way to deploy applications on the BIG-IP system, were the key to solving this problem. By deploying BIG-IP FAST, the healthcare system quickly configured a new load-balancing solution that stabilized the network and supported the system transition.
BIG-IP FAST allowed the organization to:
- Rapidly configure load balancers: Pre-built templates let the Swiss provider set up a resilient infrastructure quickly, cutting down the complexity of manual configurations and saving critical time.
- Secure patient data: The BIG-IP FAST templates integrated encryption and access controls, ensuring that sensitive medical data was protected during the transition.
- Ensure compliance: With built-in support for regulatory standards, BIG-IP FAST helped the provider maintain compliance with both local and international regulations, avoiding potential legal and financial consequences.
Solving critical network and security challenges
One of the critical challenges solved with BIG-IP FAST was network instability. The transition required stable, secure load balancing, and BIG-IP FAST ensured the healthcare provider could implement this quickly, keeping the network up and running without interruptions.
Security was also a top concern. With BIG-IP FAST, the organization deployed secure configurations that protected patient data from cyber threats, especially important in an environment increasingly targeted by ransomware attacks. The BIG-IP FAST templates simplified the process of adhering to complex data regulations like HIPAA and GDPR, reducing the risk of costly penalties and reputational damage.
A seamless transition with no downtime
With BIG-IP FAST, the Swiss medical provider met its go-live deadline, avoiding the disruptions that could have impacted patient care. The network stabilized, the new system was successfully deployed, and sensitive data remained secure throughout the process.
The story of the Swiss medical care system demonstrates the powerful synergy of Epic and F5’s joint efforts, particularly in challenging environments where security and operational timelines are critical.
It also demonstrates the practical value of F5 BIG-IP FAST in high-stakes, time-sensitive environments. By streamlining the deployment process and enhancing security, BIG-IP FAST proved essential in helping a major healthcare provider navigate a critical transition without compromising patient care.
Learn more about the F5 and Epic partnership and solutions at f5.com/epic.
Epic Disclaimer: Epic does not endorse any third-party products or services. All rights reserved by Epic Systems Corporation.
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