Navigating Compliance: Dedicated Infrastructure vs. Public Cloud for Water Treatment Data
In an era where data drives decision-making, the infrastructure behind that data matters just as much as the sensors and systems collecting it. For industrial water treatment applications, the right data architecture can be the difference between seamless compliance and costly disruptions.
Whether it’s documenting system performance, maintaining records for environmental regulators, or enabling predictive analytics for maintenance, water treatment systems today are expected to produce and manage a growing volume of operational data. The question many operators now face is: where should that data live—on dedicated infrastructure or in the public cloud?
At JMark Systems, we’ve seen this debate play out across the sectors we serve—from pharmaceutical cleanrooms to mining sites to utility plants. In this post, we’ll break down the pros and cons of both infrastructure models, especially as they relate to compliance, reliability, and control in water treatment environments.
Why Water Treatment Data Is a Compliance Priority
Water treatment systems generate a wide array of data: flow rates, turbidity levels, dosing records, filter performance, pH readings, and more. In regulated industries, this data is not only critical for operations—it’s legally required.
Environmental agencies, including the EPA, increasingly demand continuous monitoring and digital recordkeeping for discharge permits, chemical use, and reclamation systems. The pharmaceutical sector, regulated by the FDA and governed by Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, must ensure complete, traceable records of water quality across batches. Mining operations, often subject to scrutiny from multiple state and federal agencies, must demonstrate real-time compliance with water discharge and reuse rules.
For these industries, data availability, accuracy, and security aren’t just IT goals—they are core to meeting operational and regulatory obligations.
The Case for Public Cloud
Over the past decade, cloud computing has revolutionized how industrial operators think about infrastructure. Platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud offer scalable, cost-effective solutions that allow data to be stored, analyzed, and accessed from anywhere.
For water treatment applications, the benefits of cloud-based systems include:
Scalability: Easily expand data storage and computing power without needing to install new hardware.
Remote Access: Access dashboards, alerts, and reports from anywhere with an internet connection.
Built-in Redundancy: Reduce the risk of data loss due to local hardware failure.
Ecosystem Integration: Leverage cloud-native tools like machine learning for predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, and performance optimization.
These advantages make cloud appealing, especially for companies looking to modernize their operations or centralize water system data across multiple sites.
However, cloud solutions also introduce new challenges, particularly around data sovereignty, privacy, and control.
The Case for Dedicated Infrastructure
While the cloud offers flexibility, many of JMark’s clients—especially in compliance-heavy industries—are choosing dedicated infrastructure for their water treatment data needs. These are systems built with physical servers, local networks, and private data environments, often installed on-site or in a controlled corporate data center.
Dedicated systems offer unmatched control over how and where data is stored. Organizations can configure security protocols precisely to their standards, restrict access to sensitive information, and operate independently of internet connectivity—an especially critical factor for remote or secure locations such as mines, power stations, or high-containment manufacturing sites.
Another major advantage of dedicated infrastructure is its ability to operate offline or with limited connectivity. In scenarios where remote operations can’t rely on consistent internet access, having on-premises servers ensures that monitoring, logging, and alerts remain functional, regardless of external network conditions.
Moreover, many regulatory standards, such as 21 CFR Part 11 or ISO 27001, are easier to enforce with physically isolated systems. Dedicated infrastructure simplifies compliance by allowing operators to implement tightly managed access controls, audit logs, and backup procedures tailored to the specific needs of the facility.
Choosing the Right Fit: Factors to Consider
When evaluating the right infrastructure model for managing water treatment data, several key considerations come into play.
Location and Accessibility are often the first points of divergence. For facilities that span multiple sites, or where engineers and managers need remote visibility, the public cloud offers a clear advantage. Cloud platforms allow real-time access to dashboards, analytics, and alerts from any location with internet connectivity. Conversely, in remote or restricted-access environments—such as mining sites, defense facilities, or certain pharmaceutical plants—dedicated infrastructure may be the only viable option due to connectivity limitations or security protocols.
Compliance Requirements also weigh heavily in the decision. While major cloud providers offer compliance frameworks for a wide range of regulatory standards, organizations are still responsible for how data is managed, accessed, and stored within the cloud. For clients in highly regulated industries, dedicated systems offer more direct control over compliance-related features, such as data retention policies, access audits, and validation documentation. In pharmaceutical and defense sectors, this control is often seen as essential rather than optional.
Budget Considerations vary between models. Public cloud infrastructure typically requires a lower upfront investment and operates on a pay-as-you-go model. This makes it attractive for businesses that want to avoid capital expenditure and prefer predictable monthly costs. Dedicated infrastructure, on the other hand, requires higher initial investment for hardware, installation, and configuration. However, it may offer lower total cost of ownership over time, especially in long-term or high-throughput environments where recurring cloud costs can accumulate quickly.
Security and Risk Management are also central to the discussion. Public cloud platforms use a shared responsibility model, meaning the provider is responsible for securing the infrastructure, while the user must secure their data and access controls. This division can create vulnerabilities if not properly managed. Dedicated infrastructure eliminates this ambiguity, offering end-to-end control over physical and digital security. For some operators, this singular control is vital to their risk posture and business continuity planning.
Finally, IT Resources and Support play a practical role. Cloud environments reduce the need for in-house IT teams to manage infrastructure, with most of the maintenance and updates handled by the provider. This is a compelling benefit for smaller organizations or those without robust IT departments. In contrast, dedicated infrastructure requires more technical expertise, either internally or through trusted third-party partners, to manage, monitor, and maintain the system over time.
Conclusion: Control, Compliance, and the Future of Water Data
As water treatment continues to evolve in sophistication and strategic importance, the infrastructure behind it must evolve too. Whether you choose the cloud for its agility or dedicated systems for their control, the key is making an intentional, well-informed decision—especially in industries where noncompliance can cost millions and damage reputations.
At JMark Systems, we believe the future of water treatment lies in flexible, integrated solutions that meet the highest standards for performance, security, and compliance. From initial design through implementation and support, we’re here to help you navigate your data infrastructure options and build a system that supports your goals now—and into the future.
Interested in a compliance-friendly water treatment solution tailored to your infrastructure needs?
Contact JMark Systems today to discuss your goals and get a custom system recommendation.