Weighing the Pros and Cons: Cloud LIMS vs On-Premise LIMS
There’s a reason that more and more labs are transitioning to cloud-based LIMS over traditional on-premise systems. Just as consumer applications like email, banking, and entertainment have migrated to the cloud, so too are scientific research applications. Modern organizations are operating in a ‘cloud-first’ paradigm, meaning the cloud is now the preferred delivery means for any new software product. In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of using a cloud-based laboratory information management system (LIMS) such as Lockbox LIMS.
Defining “The Cloud”
Before we can outline the advantages of a cloud-based LIMS, let’s first define what is meant by “cloud” software. When something is “cloud based”, it means that the software does not originate from a server in the same location as the end-user. In other words, the software is not installed “on-premise”. Instead, the software is managed by a third party in a secure location. Users access the software via the internet. Gmail, Netflix, and Facebook are all examples of cloud applications. Because all aspects of the technology, such as servers, infrastructure, and backups are delivered as a service by a third party, this type of software delivery is also known as “Software as a Service” or “SaaS”. That same philosophy is applied to a web-based LIMS software. You may already know the benefits of having an application based in the cloud, but let’s specifically dive into the benefits of cloud-based LIMS versus an on-premise LIMS.
A Cloud-based LIMS Means Anytime Anytime, Anywhere Access
Perhaps the biggest benefit of having your lab information management system based in the cloud is ease of access. Since all you need is a device with a web browser and an internet connection, you can access your research data from literally anywhere in the world. Gone are the days of having to VPN in to your organization’s IT network, or worse, having to be physically on-site in order to access your sample data. With a cloud-based LIMS like Lockbox, your data is never more than a web browser away.
Reliability
Do you remember how frustrating it was to be denied access to your experimental data because your LIMS was “down”? Historically, since everything was run off of the local server, IT departments had to bear the brunt of managing all the software used in labs. Keeping up with software changes, patches, and bugs was never easy, and was often too much for organizations to do themselves, even with the best LIMS software on the market. Fast forward to today. With web-based LIMS, you no longer need to manage software locally. This means all of the software maintenance is handled by the vendor, and upgrades and patches can show up automatically (if validation is not necessary). Cloud-based LIMS vendors also manage data backups, redundancy, and fail-over processes, ensuring customers have constant access to their data.
Cloud Storage Means a Single Source of Truth
If you’ve ever collaborated with labs in different locations, you may remember having to deal with sample data spread out among multiple databases. If vials were shipped between locations, it was impossible to know which database contained the most up-to-date information about any particular sample. Using a cloud-based LIMS fixes this. With a LIMS like Lockbox, users all access the same sample record, so there is never an issue with duplicate or out-dated records. This ‘single source of truth’ ensures that your LIMS does what it is supposed to do: allows you to easily locate the most current information about any sample, any time.
Cloud-based Security
Security may be the single most compelling reason to switch to a cloud-based LIMS. Hackers are constantly changing their tactics and it is almost impossible for an individual lab to keep on-premise software up-to-date with all the latest security fixes and vulnerability patches. As cyber-criminals become more sophisticated, organizations are forced to hire consultants and security experts to maintain secure systems. That headache disappears with cloud applications. Vendors like Third Wave Analytics use platforms that are certified as having the most up-to-date, modern, and technologically advanced hardware and software security features available. These secure LIMS hosting platforms benefit from millions of dollars of security infrastructure and budgets that are hundreds of times larger than the entire operating budget of most labs. There is no comparison between the security features in a cloud platform, versus what an individual IT manager in a stand-alone lab can provide.
Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Now that you’ve heard about the benefits, you may be wondering about cloud LIMS pricing. With all of these benefits compared to traditional on-premise LIMS, you may be surprised to learn that once all costs are factored in, the cost of a cloud-based LIMS is normally less than an on-premise version. This is because on-premise LIMS require you to purchase servers and other IT hardware to run the application. In addition, there are peripheral costs like IT staff, real estate, environmental monitoring, and more that have to be accounted for in the on-premise model. This makes the true cost of a cloud-based LIMS much lower than the on-premise alternative.
Given all the benefits described above, it is easy to see why lab managers and R&D directors are moving to a cloud-first paradigm for scientific and research applications, including laboratory information management systems. Security, reliability, data access, and lower TCO are all reasons why modern labs are now only considering cloud-based LIMS such as Lockbox for their laboratory informatics projects. If you are interested in implementing a cloud based laboratory information management system for your organization, please contact us to learn more and someone from our sales team will be in touch.