Siki Giunta is responsible for Verizon’s end-to-end global cloud ecosystem, as well as technology convergence and connected solutions throughout the Verizon wireline and wireless networks. She leads a global team of cloud and data center professionals to bring the new Verizon Cloud to market, ensuring clients can harness this enterprise-class platform to unlock the value of their data, and access it where and when they need it.
Prior to joining Verizon, Giunta was vice president of Cloud Computing and Software Services at CSC, with global responsibility for implementing cloud computing strategy in consulting, systems design and integration, while driving SaaS-enablement for the CSC portfolio of industry solutions.
She has more than 20 years of international operations, marketing and sales experience, including tenure as president and CEO of Fortisphere, and president and CEO of Managed Objects, where she helped create the Business Service Management software market category. Giunta also served as vice president of strategic business for Novell and senior vice president at Computer Associates.
Once customers are riding on the “Power of the Network,” what do they want to do when they get there? The only way to achieve secure “anywhere” access and enable efficient, real-time communication and information exchange is through the cloud. It puts IT back in the driver’s seat, fundamentally redefining its relevance to business. Collaboration between IT and the lines of business will be critical if cloud is to deliver the transformative results that leaders increasingly expect.
Q: Describe the impact of the HIPAA/HITECH final Omnibus Rule and how healthcare organizations can manage their risk.
A: The HIPAA/HITECH final Omnibus Rule requires that covered entities and business associates collaborate to protect patient privacy and the security of patient health information (PHI).
As covered entities, healthcare organizations should seek business associate partners with a variety of attributes, but the most important from my perspective are corporate maturity with regards to protecting and handling customer data; commitment to long-term sustainability; physical, administrative and technical security controls; and mature compliance processes, policies and procedures.
Q: What are the major healthcare cloud application trends?
A: The current key focus areas for healthcare cloud application are backup and disaster recovery; imaging data storage and archiving; hosting clinical applications; and data and healthcare information exchange.
The top business drivers for hosting applications on the cloud for healthcare organizations are centered on cost effectiveness, speed of deployment and increasing efficiency in resource management.
Q: What is Verizon’s Healthcare Enabled Services (HCES)?
A: Healthcare Enabled Services (HCES), established in 2012, is a current Verizon cloud and data-center service offering that meets applicable HIPAA physical, technical and administrative requirements for business associates. As a result of our security process and controls within HCES, a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) is available for the specified facilities and associated services for customers seeking to store electronic protected health information (ePHI) with Verizon.
Q: What are the features and benefits of Verizon’s Healthcare Enabled Services?
A: Verizon’s HCES coverage includes co-location, remote hands and smart hands service. In addition, the Verizon Cloud features Enterprise Cloud Private and Federal editions, a cloud backup, intrusion detection system and log aggregation. It also manages databases, applications and a hosted backup service, as well as IDs for managed hosting.
The benefits HCES offers include solutions that meet applicable business associate HIPPA/HITECH security rule requirements and mature security controls, policies and procedures.
Verizon is a trustworthy protector of critical customer data and identities around the world.
