New Vaisala solution helps life sciences companies save resources by moving to secure cloud-based monitoring

The life sciences field is showing a growing interest in cloud computing to improve scalability, efficiency, and risk mitigation. To help its customers make the move from on-premises IT infrastructure to the cloud, Vaisala is launching a scalable cloud version of its trusted viewLinc Continuous Monitoring Software.

Vaisala, a global leader in measurement technology, has launched a subscription-based SaaS application, viewLinc Cloud, which is the cloud native version of its viewLinc software for Continuous Monitoring System (CMS). It allows organizations operating in life sciences, such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies, to monitor, alarm, and report on facility conditions, ensuring full compliance with strict industry regulations.

The viewLinc Cloud offering will be expanded in three phases, eventually becoming a tiered system where customers can select the features that they need. viewLinc Cloud Standard, most suitable for customers operating out of a single facility, will become available in September 2024. The advanced and premium versions will become available later and will add capabilities to serve the most demanding life science applications.

GxP monitoring, superior data security, and simplified scalability

viewLinc Cloud is specifically designed for validated applications in the GxP space and enables improved scalability and efficiency by removing the need for a heavy, local, and limited IT infrastructure.

“Currently, there is a trend in life sciences where companies are moving their on-premises, resource-intensive IT infrastructure to the cloud or are aiming to do so in the next few years. By choosing a cloud-based system, our customers reduce the need for internal IT resources and can focus on their core business. viewLinc Cloud allows Vaisala to deploy the software on a secure cloud server and manage maintenance activities, including scheduled software updates,” says Steven Bell, Product Manager at Vaisala.

At a facility monitored by viewLinc Cloud Standard, data loggers installed on-site record the temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels, and the encrypted data is then transmitted via Vaisala’s proprietary VaiNet wireless protocol to viewLinc’s database in the cloud. The system’s users, such as laboratory technicians and quality managers, can easily view the data via any standard web browser. If the viewLinc Cloud system detects any deviation from the permitted measurements, it automatically alerts personnel.

“For life science operations, data integrity and system security are not optional – they are a must. viewLinc Cloud was designed with these as the top priority. All data is recorded redundantly and encrypted, including data stored locally in the data logger, in transit to the cloud server and when stored in the secure cloud database. System data cannot be altered, and configuration changes are tracked in the secure audit trail. viewLinc Cloud also provides multi-factor authentication and granular user rights based on roles to provide system controls required by regulations,” explains Bell.