In this expert-led webinar, PTP explores how life sciences organizations can reduce AWS spend, improve cloud visibility, and enhance security posture. The panel covers tools like CloudCheckr, AWS-native schedulers, tagging frameworks, and multi-cloud governance—all essential for cloud cost optimization in biotech.
Reducing AWS Costs Without Sacrificing Innovation
PTP experts shared real-world strategies for cutting costs while scaling cloud infrastructure in compliant, high-performance environments. Tips included using the AWS Instance Scheduler to shut down idle compute, leveraging CloudCheckr for multi-account budget enforcement, and applying tagging policies for more effective chargeback.
Right-Sizing and Reserved Planning
Right-sizing EC2 instances is essential in research-heavy organizations with dynamic workloads. The team also recommended reserved instances and savings plans to lock in discounts—especially useful for long-running compute and lab instrumentation systems.
Hybrid Cloud and Storage Management
Architects discussed using AWS Storage Gateway to extend on-prem storage into the cloud—reducing local hardware dependence and improving access to S3 for genomics and imaging data.
Cloud Security & Compliance Frameworks
Security experts outlined best practices for secure cloud environments in life sciences, including:
- IAM least-privilege access and MFA enforcement
- S3 and RDS encryption policies
- Network segmentation using scoped VPCs and NACLs
- Continuous security monitoring via CloudCheckr and CloudWatch
Enabling Visibility Across Teams
Cloud finance and DevOps teams must work together to ensure that engineers can innovate while staying within budget. PTP’s managed cloud services help bridge this gap through cost reports, forecasting, and tagging strategy reviews aligned to biotech operating models.
Want help optimizing your cloud operations? Contact PTP for a custom review of your cloud cost structure and security posture.
Highlights from the Panel Discussion
0:04 – Gary Derheim kicks off the event with an overview of PTP’s approach to cloud governance and cost benchmarking across clients.
9:00 – Ethan Simmons explains how AWS Instance Scheduler and CloudCheckr are used to manage spend through tagging, scheduling, and multi-account budget alerts—critical for cloud optimization for life sciences.
14:00 – Aaron Jeskey outlines common overspend areas like oversized EC2s and excessive EBS volume provisioning. Right-sizing and tagging are key.
20:00 – The panel compares native AWS tools with third-party platforms like CloudCheckr, Aviatrix, and Cisco ASAv to enhance visibility, control, and security across complex biotech environments.
26:00 – Bill Amsbaugh discusses using AWS Storage Gateway in hybrid research labs to sync local instruments with S3, ensuring data protection and low-latency access for high-throughput workflows.
31:00 – Rick Pitcairn explains how CloudCheckr and consistent data reviews inform incremental cost and infrastructure improvements within PTP’s managed services framework.
34:00 – Steve Hoevenaar calls out common AWS security missteps: unused root accounts, overly permissive roles, missing encryption, and open VPC rules—crucial areas for securing biotech infrastructure.
39:00 – The panel outlines low-effort, high-impact security improvements: IAM hygiene, MFA, network restrictions, S3 encryption, and continuous inspection using CloudCheckr.
44:00 – Steve and Rick emphasize the role of employee education in preventing phishing attacks, even when the cloud environment is technically secure.
45:00 – Aaron dives into performance monitoring with CloudWatch, instance resizing, and reserved capacity planning—foundational for cloud management for biotech teams.
51:00 – Ethan explains how to balance innovation and budget: empowering technical teams while maintaining cost visibility for CFOs.