Four Ways CROs Can Benefit From a Cloud-based Approach

By moving to the cloud, CROs can become more efficient and better positioned to scale in response to rising demand. Experts on veristat.com are helping pharmaceuticals leverage Veristat cloud-based clinical trials to reduce the huge costs and lengthy lead times of traditional clinical trials. Cloud-based clinical trials have several undeniable advantages, especially in terms of cost, speed, security, centralization, and transparency, yet some CROs are hesitant to adopt the strategy.
Faster trials
It is possible to implement a cloud-based CTMS in a short amount of time, which will make it easier to conduct a whole clinical study. Because enterprise, cloud apps are extremely adaptable by design, CROs like Veristat can customize a cloud-based CMS to their needs more quickly than they could if using traditional clinical trial software. Clinical trials conducted in the cloud are more streamlined and efficient since data can be transferred in real-time for query management, resulting in prompt feedback and quick data cleaning. With all the data in one place, statisticians can perform real-time analysis of metrics, which speeds up clinical trials and improves efficiency.
Cost efficiencies
When CROs conduct clinical trials on the cloud, they only have to pay for the resources they use. This helps CROs save money on IT and speed up the introduction of innovative tools and techniques. According to recent studies, embracing cloud computing can help many life sciences businesses cut their annual running costs for their clinical IT systems by as much as 25%. Switching to a cloud-based CTM (clinical trial management system) can save money on software licensing and the costs associated with acquiring, installing, and maintaining the necessary hardware to run the CTMS.
Data security
CROs are hesitant to conduct clinical trials in the cloud due to security concerns. However, one of the greatest advantages of a centralized cloud is the various layers of security it can apply to sensitive patient data. Even if an attacker manages to get past one layer of a multi-tiered defense, subsequent layers will still be able to stop them. Cloud service providers place a high priority on the security of their customers’ information because they know it directly affects the performance of their businesses. Access controls like password management, including multifactor authentication, together with data preservation and business continuity planning, are other well-established security measures.
Centralization
Using cloud-based EDC software means that data from multiple sources is collected, saved, and processed on one central platform. This makes data monitoring, reporting, communication, and collaboration more efficient. This is especially helpful for large-scale, multi-site clinical trials that remotely monitor thousands of people. Clinical trials can be completed in a fraction of the time if all data is stored in a single location.
What the future may hold
Visionary CRO leaders want to do more than just run clinical trials. They want to become healthcare data partners for big pharmaceutical companies. To do this, CROs are increasingly using cloud-based clinical trial platforms, which can accommodate tens of thousands of users across the globe and dozens of apps at once. These platforms are meant to support a wide range of apps and programs, such as virtual care delivery, DCTs, and other study- and information-related services. By moving their web-based applications to a cloud service, CROs can quickly grow to meet demand spikes and make their applications more available.
By reducing the time it takes to handle data and improving how studies are run, cloud-based systems help CROs solve the time and money problems that come up when running clinical trials.