Cloud Computing


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General description 

Cloud computing translates as ‘using compute resources owned and maintained by a large company on a pay-as-you-go basis’. Cloud resources include as a baseline compute power (virtual machines), data storage, and network access. From there, the cloud offers a host of sophisticated services built on this baseline, including: databases, AI laboratories, quantum computing, GPUs, and tools to scale and manage computational workloads.

UW-IT partners with major providers like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google to provide Cloud service offerings that let the UW community and research teams more easily and securely consume cloud computing resources while benefitting from a variety of price breaks.  

Platforms  

Why purchase cloud resources through UW-IT? 

  • You will receive price discounts, no or lower data ingress and egress costs, and a waiver of UW’s Facilities & Administrative Costs, benefits that are not available when you purchase directly from the vendors
  • You can access the NIH STRIDES initiative to receive additional discounts and support.
  • Your cloud usage falls under contracts that UW-IT has negotiated with the vendors and resellers, often through the Internet2 NET+ Cloud Services Program which protect security and privacy, manage risk, and offer terms beneficial to higher education research teams.
  • You can leverage UW-IT account provisioning, Single Sign-On, Multi-Factor Authentication, and information security services.
  • Dedicated UW-IT Research Computing staff offer consultation on managing cloud accounts and selecting cloud resources, training sessions, and direct connections experts from the cloud vendors who can help you innovate.  

How to think about cloud costs? 

  • The cloud offers elasticity to instantly scale up whenever the workload increases and scale down when the load decreases to save money. Cloud resources are also pay-as-you-go, with costs accruing only for the time used; and resources can be shut down when not actively used.
  • A common starting point for thinking about cloud costs is that an hour of compute time on a moderately powerful computer and a gigabyte-month of storage each cost about three cents.
  • You can also move between vendors if one has preferable costs or service offerings.  Technologies like Docker containers allow you to package and move your cloud environments between vendors as needed if one offers preferable pricing or service offerings.  

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User support 

Training resources  

Special opportunities  

Questions? 

  • Not sure where to start? Want to request current pricing or begin the purchase process? Complete the Research Computing Consulting Intake Form to connect with the UW-IT Research Computing team for guidance on selecting the right computing services for your research project.
  • For more details about Cloud Computing please visit our Service Catalog.