The concept of cloud computing has actually been around since the 1960s, and it wasn’t until 2006 that it started to gain traction in industry.  In contrast to the cloud, traditional methods for computing within laboratories are on-site server configurations.  This is where the laboratory maintains the hardware as well as the supporting infrastructure at their facilities.  Since the rise of internet usage and advances in technology, laboratories that have switched to cloud computing are realising the operational benefits and efficiencies.  In this article, we have highlighted the main reasons why most laboratories are switching to cloud computing and why you should too.

Cost

A laboratory would need to make substantial capital investment to build the equivalent capabilities offered by enterprise cloud service providers. In addition to the capital outlay for infrastructure, laboratories will also need to consider the on-going operational costs to maintain it.  Cost is certainly the top factor for switching to cloud computing.  As a laboratory, you get to benefit from a first-class solution at a lower price and typically with a ‘pay what you use’ model and no long-term commitments.   

Scalability

As your laboratory grows, you will inevitably generate more data.  Cloud computing allows laboratories to scale their capacity accordingly to ensure the right amount of resources is provided. This includes more processing power, data storage, and bandwidth without the costs and lead-time of sourcing additional infrastructure of what would be required of a traditional on-site solution.  

Reliability

Cloud service providers build and maintain the necessary components required to deliver a 24/7 operation. The industry standard for cloud computing is data backup, disaster recovery and business continuity.  Therefore, you can have peace of mind that your laboratory will have reliable access and secure data storage.