Cloud vs. Local Storage for PACS: How to Choose
Cloud, on-premise, or hybrid — a practical look at how to think about PACS storage for your organization.
One of the first decisions when adopting a PACS is where your studies will actually live: in the cloud, on local infrastructure, or a mix of both.
Cloud storage removes the need to manage on-premise servers, and makes studies accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. It suits organizations that want to minimize local infrastructure.
Local storage keeps data within your own infrastructure, which some organizations prefer for policy or connectivity reasons.
Hybrid storage combines the two — a local copy for fast access, backed up to the cloud — giving you a middle ground between control and convenience.
There is no single right answer; the best choice depends on your imaging volume, internet reliability, and internal policy. A platform that supports all three lets you choose based on your actual requirements rather than the limitations of the software.