Lifebit's Approach to Open-Source Software

Lifebit’s Platform offers researchers and clinicians a data-driven view into the determinants of health and disease. This facilitates clinical impacts, accelerates drug discovery, and ultimately improves patient outcomes.

Challenge: incorporating open-source software into platforms while maintaining security, support, and longevity

Researchers are increasingly turning to open-source software to access the latest, best-in-class tools for data analysis and sharing. The benefits of open source software are clear, so when organisations begin to build data analytics platforms/trusted research environments, they increasingly turn to open-source solutions. There are three approaches an organisation can take to adopting open-source software - closed platforms, DIY solutions, and open platform. However, for organisations looking to adopt open-source software as part of their platforms, there can be a variety of risks associated with this.

Closed platform or DIY platform approaches to open-source software come with high risk in terms of:

• Lack of security and compliance
• Lack of ongoing maintenance of software and support
• High costs and poor user experience/interface (UX/UI)

Solution: open platform

Open platform systems have multiple benefits to end users, whilst ensuring security is not compromised. They:

• enable users to add features and functionality they would otherwise not be able to in closed systems,
• help combat vendor lock-ins and data silos, which are often significant issues when using either a closed platform or DIY solution
• extend support for a variety of open-source integrations and applications, which ensure minimal security risks when it comes to adopting innovative and community-driven applications.

In this white paper we’ll explore the benefits and drawbacks of each approach and how Lifebit uses open-source software in our Platform while ensuring security, support and longevity. For access to the full white paper, fill out the form with your information.