Benefits of Using The Cloud¶
Working in the cloud is exceptionally scalable and versatile; you only use as much as you need, whether that’s in terms of storage space or processing cores. Cloud-based data is easily read by massively parallel processes, expediting results. When you’re done, resources disappear! You don’t have idle resources sitting around collecting dust.
Don’t be intimidated by the cloud! Scale your analyses using the data on ISB-CGC. If you’ve conducted bioinformatics before using the command line or SQL, this will be just as easy (if not easier) and we are also here to help. Email feedback@isb-cgc.org or visit our Community Notebooks page for guides and tutorials.
Most bioinformaticians today are likely accustomed to using the high performance compute (HPC) resources provided by their institution to conduct high-throughput bioinformatics analyses. Here’s a breakdown on how the Google Cloud Platform compares to your institution’s HPC resources.
Your University’s HPC Resource |
Google Cloud Platform |
|
---|---|---|
Operating Systems |
Linux, Windows |
Virtual machines can run Linux and Windows |
Compute |
Virtual machines not determined by you |
You can sign up with you own virtual machines* |
Storage |
Block Storage
|
Block Storage & Object Storage
|
Pricing |
Depends on the institution:
|
Pay as you go
|
Do you have to wait? |
Yes
|
No
|
Is machine powerful enough? |
Yes and no, depends on what you’re trying to do; often it’s a no |
Compute resources and storage are unlimited, but you have to pay for it* |
Accessing Cancer Genomics Data |
Typically not stored on the HPC; you have to download to your local machine |
Data is stored on the cloud |
How to connect |
Log in using Secure Shell protocol (SSH) |
Log in using Secure Shell protocol (SSH) |
*Be careful of costs, See the Cost Management page for more information.