Table of Contents

Introducing Synopsys Cloud

Cloud native EDA tools and pre-optimized hardware platforms. Experience unlimited EDA licenses with true pay-per-use on an hourly or per-minute basis.

Many organizations seek ways to escape the limitations of on-premises and colocation infrastructure by migrating to the cloud. Cloud infrastructure is often cheaper in up-front and ongoing costs, providing additional benefits like scalability, flexibility, and security. This article discusses the benefits of cloud migration for chip designers and includes some migration tips for how to get the most out of your new cloud services.


Benefits of Cloud Migration for Chip Designers

The benefits of cloud migration for chip designers include:

 

Scalability

Scaling on-premises infrastructure is time-consuming and expensive because it usually involves purchasing and installing additional hardware and/or software. Cloud infrastructure, by comparison, can scale with a simple click of a button or, in the case of elastic cloud services, automatically grow and shrink to meet current demands. Some cloud EDA platforms also use “elastic licensing,” which means you always have the number of licenses you need without overpaying for extra licenses that aren’t actively being used.

 

Cost Savings

When managed correctly, cloud infrastructure and services can be less expensive than traditional data center infrastructure. As mentioned above, many cloud platforms use elastic scaling for resources and licenses, which means you only pay for what you’re actively using. In addition, migrating to the cloud reduces the hardware and software you need to purchase and maintain, reducing your up-front and maintenance costs.

 

Flexibility

Cloud services are highly scalable, so businesses have the flexibility to add resources as needed to meet spikes in demand. They can also shrink their infrastructure during downturns to save money. Many cloud platforms include a library of features and extensions, making it easier for organizations to add new functionality when needed. This library allows you to explore new features without a huge up-front commitment, so you can innovate and deliver exciting new capabilities to your customers without breaking the bank.

 

Security and Compliance

With on-premises infrastructure, your organization is responsible for every aspect of security and compliance. That often means investing in expensive physical security measures like camera systems, 24-hour security guards, and biometric door locks. On the other hand, cloud services use the shared responsibility model, which means you’re only responsible for a portion of security, and the provider handles the rest. When you migrate to a cloud provider who’s trustworthy and has obtained cloud security framework certifications, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing security best practices are being followed without the headache of implementing them yourself.


Three Cloud Migration Strategies

There are three general cloud migration strategies, each with advantages and disadvantages. 

 

1. Lift-and-Shift

In a lift-and-shift migration, you simply pick up your on-premises application or service and move it to a cloud hosting platform. While this is usually the most straightforward way to migrate, it doesn’t confer the same benefits as the other methods. That’s because on-premises applications aren’t designed with cloud architectures in mind. Therefore, they won’t be as scalable or flexible as cloud-native applications even after migrating to a cloud host.

 

2. Re-architecture

In a re-architecture migration, an on-premises application is re-designed for a cloud environment, for example, turning a monolith application into a microservices application. This process is more time- and resource-intensive than a lift-and-shift migration, but it results in a highly scalable, flexible, and cost-effective cloud application.

 

3. Replacement

In a replacement migration, you ditch your on-premises application altogether and replace it with a cloud-native version. For example, you could purchase a cloud-native SaaS solution like Synopsys Cloud instead of lifting or rearchitecting an EDA (electronic design automation) solution for the cloud. Replacing your on-premises app may be cheaper (depending on your in-house development resources) than redeveloping a custom solution. Implementation is also faster and easier since the application already exists and just needs to be configured for your use.

If you want to see all the potential benefits of cloud migration, it’s best to rearchitect or replace your EDA software. Cloud-native EDA solutions are built for the cloud from the ground up so they can best use the scalability and flexibility of cloud infrastructure. 


Synopsys, EDA, and the Cloud

Synopsys is the industry’s largest provider of electronic design automation (EDA) technology used in the design and verification of semiconductor devices, or chips. With Synopsys Cloud, we’re taking EDA to new heights, combining the availability of advanced compute and storage infrastructure with unlimited access to EDA software licenses on-demand so you can focus on what you do best – designing chips, faster. Delivering cloud-native EDA tools and pre-optimized hardware platforms, an extremely flexible business model, and a modern customer experience, Synopsys has reimagined the future of chip design on the cloud, without disrupting proven workflows.

 

Take a Test Drive!

Synopsys technology drives innovations that change how people work and play using high-performance silicon chips. Let Synopsys power your innovation journey with cloud-based EDA tools. Sign up to try Synopsys Cloud for free!


About The Author

Sridhar Panchapakesan is the Senior Director, Cloud Engagements at Synopsys, responsible for enabling customers to successfully adopt cloud solutions for their EDA workflows. He drives cloud-centric initiatives, marketing, and collaboration efforts with foundry partners, cloud vendors and strategic customers at Synopsys. He has 25+ years’ experience in the EDA industry and is especially skilled in managing and driving business-critical engagements at top-tier customers. He has a MBA degree from the Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley and a MSEE from the University of Houston.

Continue Reading