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How Keck Medicine Replaced its VPN Infrastructure with Zscaler Private Access to Simplify the User Experience
A remote connectivity solution based on zero trust allows workers to be perpetually connected and provides access to only the resources they require. This makes the process of connecting easy while providing better security than a traditional VPN.
3 Min Read
(Credit: Alexander Yakimov / Alamy Stock Photo)
Virtual private networks (VPNs) are complex and prone to connectivity issues. Setting up a VPN involves multiple steps, such as configuring protocols, encryption methods, and network settings, which can be challenging for non-technical users. Additionally, VPNs often experience bandwidth limitations, server overloads, and network congestion. In medicine, this diverts valuable time and resources from patient care.
In a recent ZKast, I interviewed Daniel Cha, principal imaging engineer at Keck Medicine, the hospital branch of the University of Southern California (USC). We met at Zscaler’s recent user event, Zenith Live, to discuss Keck Medicine’s transition from traditional VPNs to Zscaler Private Access (ZPA). The change has significantly boosted clinician productivity by simplifying remote access.
Highlights of the ZKast are below.
With ZPA, clinicians no longer have to log into VPNs and complete multi-factor authentication (MFA). Instead, they can start working immediately after turning on their computers. This has resulted in fewer support tickets, allowing Keck Medicine’s IT team to focus on more valuable tasks.
Clinicians have expressed positive feedback on ZPA, noticing its absence during downtime as it impacts their ability to access images and perform tasks. Even during necessary maintenance on ZPA, they are reluctant to revert to traditional VPNs. This improved workflow has significantly enhanced their daily operations.
Timely access to medical images is crucial. Surgeons sometimes need to consult with on-call radiologists or specialists while a patient is on the table. Multiple providers, including radiologists or cardiologists, require access to these images. Access is necessary for them to provide the necessary feedback during critical moments.
Healthcare imaging is data-intensive. Clinicians typically review multiple X-rays simultaneously. Breast tomosynthesis, or 3D mammography, is especially data-heavy. A single examination study is approximately five gigabytes. Radiologists often compare these with other studies, pulling three to four terabytes of data in one session. The volume increases significantly when numerous patients are read consecutively.
In addition to using ZPA for remote access, Keck Medicine employs several imaging-based artificial intelligence (AI) types. The primary one identifies regions of interest in images, directing radiologists’ attention to specific areas rather than having them read through stacks of images. This substantially saves time and improves efficiency.
Keck Medicine is conducting a proof of concept for Zscaler Digital Experience (ZDX), an experience monitoring solution. ZDX has proven effective in pinpointing issues for individual users. Users don’t require additional agents or applications, whether connected via wireless or wired networks. Therefore, users have reliable connectivity when troubleshooting remotely.
Organizations need help integrating technologies like VPNs and MFAs. Zscaler simplifies the process by removing the most difficult aspects, allowing clinicians to focus on their medical duties instead of technical issues. Keck Medicine’s transition to Zscaler has improved efficiency and workflow, making a real difference in patient care.
VPNs were a tremendous innovation when they were first developed, as they enabled access to company resources outside the corporation's walls. However, that was over 40 years ago, and the world has changed. VPNs were meant for casual connectivity for a handful of workers. Today, remote work is the norm, and a more straightforward, secure solution is required. Zscaler Private Access is based on zero trust, which allows workers to be perpetually connected and provides access to only the resources they require. This makes the process of connecting easy while providing better security than a traditional VPN.
Zeus Kerravala is the founder and principal analyst with ZK Research.
Read his other Network Computing articles here.
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