In this edition of PTP’s Infinite Innovation Interview Series, Gary Derheim speaks with Alex Smith, a CloudOps Engineer at PTP, about how organizations can securely connect to AWS from distributed environments. As hybrid work becomes standard and cloud-native operations expand, choosing the right AWS access method is essential for biotech companies and life sciences teams.
This conversation explores scalable, secure, and cost-effective strategies to support modern research IT needs.
Addressing the Challenges of Secure AWS Access
For life sciences and biotech teams, remote and hybrid workforces, external collaborators, and regulatory constraints require careful control over how users access cloud resources.
Many early-stage companies rely on IP-based security groups, but this method quickly becomes unsustainable. Changing IP addresses, one-off access requests, and exceptions add up—creating administrative friction and increased risk. For teams using managed IT services for life sciences, these manual processes can slow productivity and compliance efforts.
Choosing the Right Connection Strategy
Alex outlines the key questions every team should ask before implementing a secure AWS access solution:
- What level of security and encryption does the organization require?
- How many users need access, and from which locations?
- Do users need full server access or only application access?
- Will AWS be managed internally or via an IT managed service provider?
These factors are critical to align access methods with scientific computing IT support and regulatory frameworks such as HIPAA and GxP.
Options for Secure AWS Connections
- IP Address Exceptions: Easy for temporary use; high maintenance and poor for scaling.
- Jump Boxes and Bastion Hosts: Central access with improved control, but complex at scale.
- AWS Client VPN: Secure, encrypted access for remote life sciences teams with MFA support.
- AWS Workspaces: Application-only desktop-as-a-service for lab researchers.
- AWS EC2 Systems Manager: Access cloud instances via console without public IP exposure.
Aligning Solutions with Business Goals
For biotech startups and clinical-stage life sciences organizations, the best approach often blends models: VPN for daily users, Systems Manager for admins, and Workspaces for app-only access.
This modular strategy fits with outsourced IT services for life sciences—supporting audit-ready, compliant, and scalable environments.
Conclusion
As cloud adoption accelerates, secure AWS access is a foundational business requirement. From compliance to collaboration, selecting the right access model empowers research teams and protects sensitive scientific workflows.
🔎 Transcript Highlights: Secure Remote AWS Access
- 00:06 – Intro to Infinite Innovation Series and AWS connectivity challenges
- 00:40 – Limitations of IP-based security groups for dynamic research teams
- 01:53 – Key questions to assess AWS access model needs
- 03:00 – When to use IP exceptions and jump boxes in biotech environments
- 04:20 – How AWS Client VPN supports secure, scalable cloud access
- 05:50 – Benefits of AWS Workspaces for lab applications without infrastructure
- 06:50 – Using Systems Manager for server access without exposing public IPs
- 08:20 – Hybrid AWS access models for regulated life sciences organizations