➤
example, the Genedata Screener soſtware system is designed to capture, analyse and manage plate-based screening data across a whole pharma’s R&D organisation. Genedata operates a typical three-tier
architecture, comprising an application server and a database, on top of which sits the web-based client tier. Te firm’s experience shows that while some customers use Genedata soſtware systems as a hosted service, other clients elect to keep the whole implementation, and thus the data and all included IP, in house. ‘Client data may be stored in a Genedata soſtware systems
THE CLOUD IS OF
PARTICULAR VALUE FOR CLIENTS WHO DON’T WANT TO RUN AN INFORMATICS INFRASTRUCTURE
database, which can reside within their own data centres (i.e. within their firewall) or use an external hosting services provider’, Leven notes. ‘From the user’s perspective, however, there is effectively no difference.’ Security concerns aside, the cloud is of
particular value for clients who don’t want to run an informatics infrastructure, and in particular want to avoid the set up and maintenance costs of hardware, Leven comments. ‘One of the cloud’s advantages is its elasticity. Tat is, for companies with their own informatics infrastructure, even temporarily spinning out intensive computing tasks to the Cloud can be beneficial. Our solutions are available to them on-premises, in the private cloud, or in the cloud. All three options can be set up to deliver the security and reliability that our customers – pharmas, CROs, and academic research institutions – demand.’
Hybrid models Confidentiality issues, the size of datasets, and the required internet bandwidth may also make cloud deployment impractical for some companies, points out BSSN Soſtware president, Burkhard Schaefer. For these clients a hybrid deployment model can help. ‘Here, the application is delivered and managed through the cloud, but customer data resides locally. Tis gives organisations the agility of deploying applications quickly by leveraging cloud technology, while maintaining full control over the location of their data.’ BSSN Soſtware uses Java Webstart to
deliver applications to desktop PCs, Schaefer 10 SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING WORLD With SaaS LIMS, collaboration is instantaneous. The data capture is immediately available to other peers
explains. ‘A deployment server hosts the application packages and delivers them to the client on demand. Updates can be deployed transparently using the same mechanism. Code is only executed on the client PC, and the deployment server does not have access to any customer scientific data.’ A similar mechanism works for server applications. ‘Docker container technology packages up the server applications into a repository, and a local agent installed in the customer data centre can effectively roll the applications to local servers. Updates can be distributed the same way. Again, the Docker application containers are stateless, do not contain data, and are effectively disposable. Tey can be replaced, updated or migrated at any time, without affecting the data.’
Ease of configuration Using this model, a customer simply subscribes to the management tools and can configure both its server and client landscape through a convenient web management console, he adds. ‘Administrators can fully reproduce and deploy any configuration, and an audit trail of deployments and configuration sets is maintained.’ Using hybrid soſtware provisioning combines the benefits of both worlds, Schaefer stresses. ‘You benefit from the agility and ease of deployment of cloud solutions, paired
with the data confidentiality of a local system. Te burden on IT groups that is typically associated with deployment and management is greatly reduced. Adding new users, clients and servers to the system is easy and convenient and does not require IT involvement. Creating testing or training configurations for new versions or new instrument integrations is similarly straightforward, and all deployments are fully audit-trailed, traceable and subject to change control.’ PerkinElmer has been moving a number
of its informatics platforms into the cloud, and has introduced cloud options for some of its well-established soſtware. ‘We have a SaaS offering that enables clients to embed ChemDraw into their own web applications, for example’ Hoefens explains. ‘Many parts of our business are moving towards the cloud, including some of our instrumentation data management.’ Connecting analytical instrumentation
directly into the cloud makes perfect sense, Encina adds. ‘PerkinElmer offers a significant portfolio of instrumentation for environment and human health applications. Environmental instrumentationmay be sited out in the field, rather than in a laboratory setting; then connecting these devices to the cloud – where you can easily collect, manage and distribute the data that comes
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