Biotech Company Eliminates Colo Hubs, Cuts WAN Outages by 98% While Staying Lean

How a mid-sized biotech startup replaced legacy regional network hubs with Alkira’s consumption-based cloud model while maintaining cost-neutral IT operations

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Company Profile

IndustryBiotechnology/Life Sciences
Size250-2,500 Employees
RevenueUp to $300M (Startup)
ScopeMulti-Site Operations
CultureModerate/Cost-Conscious
ChallengePre-Profitability Startup

The Challenge

This biotech company operated with a legacy network architecture using colo-based regional hubs to connect scattered labs, offices, and data centers to their Azure and AWS cloud environments. As a startup focused on controlling costs, they needed a more flexible, consumption-based model.

Legacy Infrastructure Challenges:

  • Expensive Colo Hubs: Regional hub architecture creating unnecessary infrastructure costs
  • Limited Cloud Access: Indirect connectivity to clouds through regional hubs
  • Complex Partner Integration: Difficult extranet connections for customers and partners
  • Lean IT Constraint: Small IT organization wanting to avoid additional network specialists
  • Platform Complexity: Native cloud networking would require specialized engineers for each platform
  • Startup Cost Pressure: Need for cost-neutral or cost-reducing solutions

The Alkira Solution

Alkira provided a cloud-native model that eliminated regional hubs while providing direct cloud access from every site, embedded best practices for each cloud platform, and simplified partner connectivity.

Alkira’s Cloud-Native Approach:

  • Direct Cloud Access: Every site connects directly to clouds without regional hubs
  • Consumption-Based Model: Flexible pricing based on actual usage, not infrastructure
  • Unified Platform: Same interface and capabilities across Azure and AWS
  • Embedded Best Practices: Cloud-specific optimization built into the platform
  • Simplified Extranet: Easy partner and customer connectivity
  • Integrated Monitoring: Built-in WAN management and visibility tools

Measurable Results

The transformation delivered significant operational improvements while maintaining the lean IT structure critical for startup operations.

Business Impact:

  • 98% Reduction: WAN outages eliminated through improved reliability
  • 50% Fewer FTEs: Network management staff requirements reduced
  • 93% Less Time: Staff time to add new clouds
  • 99.9% Less Time: Calendar time to add new clouds
  • 80% Less Time: Staff time to onboard new partners
  • 83% Less Time: Calendar time to onboard new partners
  • Cost Neutral: Implementation achieved without increasing IT budget

Startup-Optimized Value

Lean IT Operations: The solution enabled the company to reallocate their network specialist to other projects rather than hiring additional cloud-specific engineers, maintaining their lean organizational structure.

Built-in Monitoring: Alkira filled a critical gap by providing WAN management visibility that the company previously lacked, eliminating the need for additional monitoring tool investments.

Consumption Flexibility: The usage-based model aligns perfectly with startup cash flow management and growth patterns.

Customer Quote

“We did not have much in the way of WAN management tooling pre-Alkira. What visibility we have, we have because of Alkira – it filled a gap. We don’t need to put [our monitoring tool] in the Alkira environment.”

– Director of Networking

The Biotech Advantage

Research Connectivity: Alkira’s model supports the unique needs of biotech companies with scattered labs, research facilities, and office locations that need reliable, high-performance connectivity to cloud-based research platforms and data repositories.

Partner Ecosystem: The simplified extranet capabilities enable easier collaboration with research partners, CROs, and regulatory agencies – critical for biotech operations.

Scalability for Growth: As the company moves toward profitability and potential scaling, the consumption-based model grows with them without requiring infrastructure overhauls.

FAQ

How can biotech startups afford enterprise networking solutions?

Alkira’s consumption-based model enables cost-neutral implementation, often reducing costs by eliminating expensive colo hub infrastructure.

 What makes Alkira suitable for research-intensive companies?

The platform provides direct cloud access from scattered labs and facilities while simplifying partner connectivity for research collaboration.

How does Alkira support lean IT operations?

Built-in best practices for each cloud platform eliminate the need for specialized engineers, while integrated monitoring reduces tool requirements.

Ready to Overcome Your Network Limitations?  See how Alkira can eliminate your legacy network hubs while reducing outages by 98% and keeping your IT operations lean and cost-effective. For more information or to speak with a network specialist, contact us.