Cloud computing in the pharmaceutical industry has grown enormously in recent years and shows no signs of slowing. It has been instrumental in enabling and promoting the use of shared IT infrastructures and services to create a flexible, scalable, and on-demand IT environment in pharma and healthcare.
This has led to both growth in the use of cloud computing in pharma, but also the number of cloud companies investing in their services and providing them to pharma corporations.
Discover the leading cloud computing companies in the pharmaceutical industry
Using its experience in the sector, Pharmaceutical Technology has listed some of the leading companies providing products and services related to cloud computing.
The information provided in the download document is drafted for pharmaceutical executives and technology leaders involved in cloud computing in the pharmaceutical industry.
The download contains detailed information on suppliers and their product offerings, alongside contact details to aid purchase or hiring decisions.
Leading cloud providers include Accenture, Microsoft, Salesforce, and Oracle, with many others also vying for cloud-based business.
Pharmaceutical companies and cloud computing models
Cloud computing refers to the provision of IT infrastructure and platform services to provide a flexible, scalable, and on-demand IT environment. For the fast-moving industry of pharmaceuticals, embracing cloud innovations quickly is critical.
On the most basic level, cloud computing may simply refer only to IT infrastructure such as a remotely hosted server.
In the deeper sense, it refers to a remotely hosted software application, together with all the computing elements required to provide that software such as a data centre, networking equipment, servers, storage, operating software, and security software.
Cloud computing is typically sold using the following service models:
IaaS: A model for delivering computing and storage capacity in which the consumer taps into resources that are typically hosted in a third-party facility and are charged for the volume used.
PaaS: A model for providing platform services that allow application developers to create, run, and manage applications without the complexity of building and maintaining the infrastructure typically associated with developing and launching an app.
SaaS: A subscription-based delivery mechanism for software in which the application is hosted by a third-party supplier, typically in a multi-tenant architecture, and delivered to end-users via the cloud.
Growth of cloud computing in the pharmaceutical industry
Whether it is cost, flexibility of use, or scalability, there are many reasons for the growing relationship between pharmaceutical companies and cloud computing.
Cloud computing provides users with an approach to consuming IT that is significantly more flexible, resource-efficient, and cost-effective compared to traditional IT.
The widespread introduction and expansion brought about by the Covid-19 response could have been problematic. If they had not invested in cloud services and innovation, many pharma businesses could well have seen their ability to work diminish as offices became vacated.
Business benefits of cloud computing for the pharmaceutical industry
The cloud represents a more agile approach to operating an IT architecture, particularly in support of modernising enterprise applications. Benefits include:
Flexibility: Businesses can access IT equipment, applications, processing, and storage capacity as needed, rather than buying hardware and software assets upfront. Organisations can gain faster access to the latest application updates and other enhancements through this model.
Cost: Cloud can deliver significant cost savings across a company’s IT budget.
Cash flow: Billing is typically metered on a usage or subscription basis, so IT expenditure shifts from one-off, upfront capital expenditure to monthly operating expenses, offering a cash flow advantage.
Scalability: Computing capabilities such as storage, processing power, or network bandwidth can be scaled up almost instantly and scaled down again, depending on demand, and users are unlikely to ever be short of capacity.
Ubiquitous access: IT resources can be accessed by any authorised users on any authorised device from any authorised location using an internet connection.
Cloud IT Services in Pharma
Cloud computing is a method for delivering information technology (IT) services in which resources are retrieved from the internet through web-based tools and applications, as opposed to a direct connection to a server.
With the massive amount of healthcare data shared globally, the cloud allows this data to be accessed easily, regardless of location.
Frequently asked questions
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What is the role of cloud computing in the pharmaceutical industry?
Cloud computing in the pharmaceutical industry enables companies to store vast amounts of data, improve collaboration, and scale operations efficiently. It supports drug development, clinical trials, and data analysis, allowing faster decision-making and cost reduction.
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How does cloud computing improve pharmaceutical research and development?
Cloud platforms provide scalable resources for data storage and processing, enabling pharmaceutical companies to perform more complex analyses in less time. This accelerates drug discovery and improves the development of personalised medicine.
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What are the different cloud service models used in pharma?
Pharmaceutical companies typically use three cloud models: IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) for scalable computing resources, PaaS (Platform as a Service) for application development, and SaaS (Software as a Service) for cloud-based software solutions.
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How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the adoption of cloud computing in pharma?
The pandemic accelerated cloud adoption in the pharmaceutical sector, as companies needed flexible IT solutions to maintain operations. Cloud computing enabled remote work, virtual collaborations, and rapid sharing of research data during this time.
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What are the key benefits of cloud computing for pharmaceutical companies?
Key benefits include cost efficiency, scalability, flexibility, and enhanced data security. Cloud solutions reduce the need for upfront capital investment in IT infrastructure, offering a pay-as-you-go model while ensuring secure, compliant data storage.