Cloud services offer flexibility, security, and convenience to life science companies. In such a fast-paced and competitive industry, these benefits are not to be taken lightly. Whether you need to handle complex computational needs or simply get your company up and running without having to set up a physical hardware infrastructure, consider if cloud services are suitable for your work.
To help you determine if a cloud or hybrid cloud approach is appropriate for your needs, your Data Evolution team has put together this guide for you. If you have any questions or would like to discuss cloud solutions for your company, we are here for you at any time.
Handle complex computational needs with cloud computing
Computational science has consistently been a growing field that often involves an expensive and elaborate infrastructure with extensive hardware requirements.
For example, a life science company focused on gene sequencing or computational chemistry may have needs that require many CPUs to get the work done in an acceptable amount of time. In the past, this meant having to acquire and set up several physical machines. Now, by leveraging the cloud, they can have immediate access to as many CPUs as they need.
Moving complex computational needs to the cloud can be an effective strategy to simplify your infrastructure, scale your storage needs, and support your research and computing endeavors in a more timely and cost-efficient way.
Even if you do not have complex computational needs, cloud services still offer numerous benefits to your biotechnology and life science work.
scale, move, & customize cloud services more easily
Cloud services offer a robust, scalable architecture that is unmatched by a physical hardware infrastructure. Why is this important for life science companies?
Moving or scaling physical hardware infrastructure requires significant logistical costs and may cause interruptions in your crucial work while waiting for equipment delivery and setup. In addition, if you have your equipment secured onsite, you are limited to your onsite Internet connection to access data and services.
When you move your infrastructure to the cloud, these limitations are reduced or eliminated:
- Moving or changing your infrastructure within the cloud can be less expensive and time-consuming.
- Your infrastructure can run and be accessed continually, even if there is a power or Internet outage or some other problem in your office, lab, or workspace.
- Your infrastructure or computing requirements may change over time. If that happens, you can scale your needs on-demand rather than buying expensive hardware that occasionally sits inactive or experiencing time delays and work disruptions during setup.
You may have some onsite infrastructure needs even if you host most of your daily systems and activities through cloud services. A trusted IT partner such as Data Evolution can help you determine a blended solution or identify a colocation facility that works best for you.
Make your operations Cost-efficient with cloud services
Companies incur significant capital expenses when establishing, moving, or scaling their physical hardware infrastructure. Moving operations to the cloud transfers those costs to operational expenses while giving you a much more malleable infrastructure that only needs a few clicks to set up and scale.
While cloud services are neither cheap nor free, your money is being put to much better use, and you will be able to grow and operate more quickly and smoothly. Cloud services are especially ideal for biotech startups. This is because you can set up items like email, file sharing, and establishing a web presence without acquiring hardware, considering maintenance costs, and planning future infrastructure needs.
Leveraging the cloud can make your operations more cost-efficient if done right – and a partner like Data Evolution can help you do it right.
Concerns and misconceptions about cloud services
Since cloud services are a relatively recent technological innovation, companies often have concerns and misconceptions about the cloud, how it works, and more. Your experienced Data Evolution team has outlined some answers here.
How secure is the cloud?
You may be wondering where the hardware is and who has access. One of the main reasons some companies prefer a physical hardware infrastructure is the peace of mind knowing their equipment and data are locked in their facility with limited physical access. After all, your work relies heavily on keeping your intellectual property confidential.
Using the cloud may mean you do not know precisely where your data is housed in terms of what building and room or who has physical access. However, the data in commercial cloud services is encrypted, which would make the hardware useless to cybercriminals.
How expensive is the cloud?
A common misconception is that the cloud is cheap or free. While this is untrue, cloud services can make your operations more cost-efficient and help you achieve more with what you spend. Typically, your organization would only need to pay for computing resources used during an established pay cycle, similar to monthly utility bills.
Cloud services offer benefits to life science companies at any stage, from startups to established organizations handling complex computational needs. These services are not inexpensive, but they are more flexible, scalable, and convenient in many ways.
Does my company really need cloud services?
Cloud services are not a one-size-fits-all solution. However, it is often a good choice to host at least some activities through cloud services, such as email or other daily processing systems.
A trusted, experienced IT partner such as Data Evolution can guide you to a decision that works for your business. This starts with a conversation about the nature of your work, your specific needs, and your concerns or questions. Bringing all these points into the discussion will help demystify the cloud and determine the right cloud or hybrid approach for you.
Do you have more questions about cloud services? Are you ready to discuss your cloud needs and find a solution that works for your company? Your partners at Data Evolution are ready to help.