The life sciences industry has an uneven relationship with technology. While many research lab operations rely on cutting-edge systems, the sector has been slow to adopt other, less specialized technologies compared to other industries. Cloud computing is one example, but thankfully, that’s changing.
Cloud computing has thoroughly disrupted many sectors, but it’s only recently seen widespread adoption among life sciences companies. Despite this delayed start, cloud solutions are quickly becoming a critical part of the industry, with the market expected to grow to six times its size in 10 years. As this trend continues, cloud adoption may become imperative for life sciences firms.
What Is Cloud Computing?
The cloud’s rapid growth across other industries has made it something of a buzzword. Consequently, many leaders may be familiar with the term but not fully understand what cloud computing is. That must change for the sector to make the most of this technology.
Cloud computing is the practice of delivering and using computing resources over the internet instead of relying on on-premises devices. Instead of using built-in hardware and in-house servers, companies pay for remote access to large data centers elsewhere. This lets users break free of hardware limitations, enables faster IT growth, and makes digital resources more flexible.
How Cloud Computing Supports the Life Sciences Industry
Because cloud computing technically stores data on another organization’s devices, many life sciences companies are cautious about the technology, preventing more widespread adoption.
Despite preconceptions, the cloud offers many security and reliability advantages over traditional computing. For example, cloud providers with options like AWS managed security services that continuously monitor and protect systems, reducing the burden on in-house IT teams. This enhanced security, combined with the cloud’s scalability and reliability, makes it an ideal platform for the life sciences industry, where data integrity and availability are paramount. Here’s a closer look at how cloud services support the life sciences industry.
Streamlining Information Sharing
One of the most significant benefits of cloud computing in the life sciences is its collaborative nature. Storing data on the cloud means authorized users can access it remotely on virtually any device, making it easier to share.
Moderna was able to go from an initial sequence to phase one clinical trials in just 42 days because of this speed and collaboration. Cloud solutions made it easy to move data from one place to another and process information. Similar systems can help researchers share their findings with remote colleagues faster, streamlining the R&D process.
With cloud computing, remote collaborators can view and edit the same files simultaneously instead of sending documents back and forth. As a result, they can work together with the same efficiency as if they were in the same room, despite being miles apart.
Ensuring Security and Compliance
Another important aspect of cloud computing in the life sciences industry is its security. While many organizations assume the cloud is inherently less secure than on-premises solutions, the opposite is often true.
Cloud services typically have better security than in-house options because they have dedicated, expertly trained security teams. Turning to these third parties means life sciences organizations can access leading cybersecurity talent and resources they may not have otherwise. That’s an important advantage when dealing with the highly sensitive data this industry often manages.
Similarly, the cloud makes it easier to comply with rising data regulations. Because cloud storage is more transparent, faster, and easily accessible, regulatory audits don’t take as long and companies can implement system-wide security changes quickly. Many cloud vendors also offer automatic compliance with common regulations like HIPAA or the GDPR.
Supporting AI and Machine Learning
Moving more data to the cloud also enables life sciences companies to capitalize on technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). While 81% of life science business leaders wish their organizations would use AI more, 73% struggle to make the most of the technology. Cloud computing can help overcome that gap.
AI models, especially machine learning algorithms, require vast amounts of data. This data must also be agile and meet high organizational and cleanliness standards, all of which are easier to enable in the cloud than in on-premises solutions. Cloud data solutions scale faster and offer more visibility, making them critical resources for AI models.
Machine learning promises to streamline research, expand automation, and improve cybersecurity. The life sciences industry needs that edge – and to access it, it requires the speed, scalability, and reliability of the cloud.
Reducing IT Requirements
Transitioning to cloud computing also helps life sciences organizations manage rising IT infrastructure and staffing needs. In a cloud model, businesses only pay for the resources they use, helping prevent wasteful spending. At the same time, cloud solutions let companies scale up faster and more affordably, leaving them room to grow as they pursue digital transformation.
Similarly, cloud solutions reduce the workload burden on life sciences companies’ IT departments as they offload many processes to automation and cloud vendors. Experts predict the world will face a shortage of 85 million tech workers by 2030, so reducing the need for IT staff like this is critical. Without that advantage, organizations may struggle to keep pace with the rapidly evolving business environment.
With the cloud, the life sciences sector can implement more new technologies without worrying about a lack of skills or hardware to support them. Existing IT teams will also have more time to focus on other issues, further mitigating the tech talent shortage.
The Life Sciences Industry Needs Cloud Computing
While cloud computing’s growth in life sciences is recent, it’s a crucial step forward. Without this technology, the industry would be unable to evolve alongside other sectors and reach its full potential.
As cloud computing adoption grows, the life sciences industry will see faster innovation, better security, and less waste. In a sector as essential as this one, those advantages are hard to ignore.
By Shannon Flynn, ReHack