Leveraging the latest technology all in one environment for clinical genomics
Healthcare organizations are continually overwhelmed by an increasing volume of data and multiple separate technology service options for data management. This can lead to increasing costs in data migration and multiple pain points across a complex data integration and interpretation process.
A cloud agnostic solution for healthcare data can solve this challenge by giving health organizations the flexibility to continue with their preferred cloud vendor and keep all systems in one environment, with greater data control, and reduced overall data management and storage costs.
Niko Hurskainen, CTO at BC Platforms, says “At BC Platforms we believe that cloud agnostic solutions are a necessity to capture the benefits of interoperability in a healthcare framework. In turn, through modern architecture components such as a containerisation strategy with Docker, cloud agnostic solutions are providing the best of both worlds by still optimally using various cloud services as well as enabling the use of latest technology innovations.”
Flexible Deployments to ensure your control over cloud vendor choice
The main cloud providers available— AWS (Amazon Web Services on-demand cloud computing platforms and APIs), Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft’s Azure— have changed how software is developed and deployed. They have developed platform services, which require companies to use a separate service to run their operations.
Typically with SaaS solutions, organizations can be limited to a specific cloud environment and to the level of data control that service allows, regardless of their data needs. On the other hand, a cloud agnostic approach offers many benefits:
- Securely deploy directly into a customer’s existing environment, with their chosen cloud subscription
- Accommodate a customer’s cloud strategy and incorporate the cloud service best suited to their needs,
- Maintain one environment for handling data life cycles, permanent file deletion, and access control
- Base system on customer guidelines, security standards and policies deployed fully within their own environment
This degree of flexibility empowers customers to choose and maintain complete security and control of their data. At the same time, BC Platforms can integrate latest technologies like Kubernetes, PostgreSQL, and BLOB storage, to optimize the system configuration and use deployment tools like Terraform to simplify the process with one code based on different cloud offerings.
This approach is optimal in a fast-evolving industry such as healthcare, because instead of being locked into one cloud provider’s specific services, it selects the technology based on the availability of services and the customer’s direct current and future needs.
Achieve an Enterprise Solution while Maintaining Data Control
A cloud agnostic solution is especially valuable to customers with large scale datasets and already existing cloud applications. Such flexibility solves several healthcare data management roadblocks, offering:
- Solution deployment into a pre-selected cloud service, in line with organization strategy
- A high degree of interoperability enabling integration with existing capabilities, including analysis workflows, active directory or identity management systems
- A holistic approach rather than moving data around different systems and sacrificing security and accessibility
A Cost-Efficient Approach to Data Management
Genomic data is known for its large-sized files and complex data management processes. There are significant egress and ingress costs associated with moving terabytes of data between a cloud platform and other systems for using the data. With a platform that integrates to any chosen cloud service, BC Platforms eases this process, increasing accessibility and lowering costs.
Cloud portability when setting up a solution addressing customer’s needs makes it possible for BC Platforms to offer an interoperable, more flexible option for utilizing cloud resources and services. As genomic data is increasingly integrated into clinical operations, organizations need to incorporate cloud services to scale data production.
It is often assumed that one needs to use separate SaaS cloud services for different parts of data management processes. With interoperable cloud agnostic solutions it is possible to meet the same process needs, maintain system integrity, and integrate latest technology. There is no need for a tradeoff; you can achieve the same results with a platform that incorporates flexibility and innovation. The result is an enterprise solution with full control of your data and seamless integration with your lab systems and EHRs.