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Cloud Storage Advantages and Disadvantages

By Gurbir Singh, Group Director, Cloud Engineering

Table of Contents

Cloud Storage Advantages and Disadvantages
Overcoming Cloud Storage Challenges With Synopsys
Synopsys, EDA, and the Cloud

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Many semiconductor companies consider migrating their data to the cloud to avoid the skyrocketing costs of on-premises storage infrastructure. Cloud storage can be more cost-efficient, providing other benefits such as redundancy, availability, and scalability. However, using cloud storage for chip design and electronic design automation (EDA) has some challenges. This article discusses cloud storage advantages and disadvantages for chip designers and provides advice on overcoming the challenges.

Cloud Storage Advantages and Disadvantages

Some advantages of cloud storage for chip designers include:

Redundancy and Disaster Recovery. Cloud storage providers typically distribute data across multiple redundant systems in multiple physical locations, which means you’ll have access even if one of their data centers suffers from a technical failure or natural disaster. Additionally, using cloud EDA tools with cloud storage will ensure business continuity even if your on-premises infrastructure goes down.
Accessibility. Unlike on-premises storage, cloud storage is accessible from anywhere in the world without a VPN. With a cloud-native EDA solution, chip designers can work remotely, so operations will continue if the office needs to close for weather or health reasons.
Elasticity and Scalability. Cloud storage is elastic, meaning the capacity can be increased or decreased automatically to meet sudden changes in demand. The price of elastic cloud storage is usage-based, so you only pay for what you use. This improves the scalability of EDA tools because you’re guaranteed the storage capacity to handle high-performance computing workloads.

The disadvantages of cloud storage for chip designers include:

Security. Cloud storage isn’t inherently less secure than on-premises storage. However, you relinquish control of the physical and software security infrastructure that houses your data. Therefore, you must trust that your cloud storage provider follows security best practices to protect your data. Cloud security frameworks certify vendors who adhere to strict security standards. Look for one of those certifications to verify that you can trust a cloud storage provider.
Internet Dependency. Cloud data is only accessible with an internet connection, so if your enterprise ISP goes down, any on-premises EDA tools that rely on that data will cease to function. This problem decreases if you use a cloud-native EDA solution because designers could continue working from their home internet connection if necessary.
Performance. Some cloud storage services have a bandwidth limit which could slow down data movement between the cloud and your on-premises EDA tools. Additionally, the performance of your EDA system will be somewhat reliant on your cloud provider’s network, so if they’re using outdated or poorly-optimized infrastructure, you could experience increased latency. The risk of performance issues significantly decreases when your EDA tools and data storage reside in the same cloud.

Overcoming Cloud Storage Challenges With Synopsys

For many chip designers, the benefits of cloud storage easily outweigh the potential drawbacks. In addition, all of the challenges involved in using cloud storage can be overcome.

For example, cloud-native EDA tools allow you to take advantage of cloud storage benefits while reducing the internet dependency and risk of performance issues that arise with an on-premises EDA system. Plus, you can reduce cloud security concerns by choosing a cloud-native EDA vendor with industry certifications proving they follow security best practices to protect your data.

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 – design 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.

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.

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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

Gurbir Singh is group director, Cloud Engineering, at Synopsys. He has a demonstrated history of leadership in the software industry. In his current role, he leads the development of the Synopsys Cloud product, which enables customers to do chip design on the cloud using EDA-as-a-Service (SaaS) as well as flexible pay-per-use models. Gurbir has run organizations to develop cloud SaaS products, machine learning applications, AI/ML platforms, enterprise web applications, and high-end customer applications. He is experienced in building world- class technology teams. Gurbir has a master’s degree in computer science, along with patents and contributions to publications.