The smart way to access cloud applications

Overcoming challenges together

The cloud comes with its own set of challenges: What is the right strategy? How do you procure the right offer? What is the best way to then integrate it? What legal issues are there? What needs to be reorganised? The rapid development of cloud applications, with updates practically every week, is a challenge for users and IT services. Users are increasingly reliant on direct documentation and information from providers, necessitating an adaptation of conventional information trails.

Cloud applications are a good example of SWITCH’s work with communities. Universities all face more or less the same problems. Separate contracts and agreements between global providers with individual universities are hardly even possible any more, and at best should only be implemented in exceptional cases. Shared solutions are now essential. Cloud contracts, agreements and usage are common topics that require a coordinated approach. There are various options depending on the application.

SWITCH provides universities with the following services:

• SWITCH cloud offerings
• In addition: commercial cloud offerings from the GÉANT IaaS tender. This portfolio of services, which are distinguished by conditions that are uniform across Europe, are intended to promote IaaS cloud applications. On this website, you can find information on contact persons, support, conditions, legal issues, training, test accounts, order options and documents from all providers and resellers.
• Higher Education Cloud Days: event platform for sharing experiences, helping users learn about solutions, providers and resellers.

With the future Community Service Hub (CSH), universities will also be able to access a shared central platform that offers certain specially selected and supported IT services, including cloud applications.