This article identifies the five top motivators that are driving higher education institutions to embrace the AWS Cloud as a long-term answer to ongoing student and staff needs.
Cloud migration has increased steadily over the last few years as K–12 schools and colleges and universities realized the cost benefits and flexibility of virtual workspaces. However, 2020 saw an unprecedented shift to the cloud in both higher education and K–12 learning as the coronavirus pandemic forced virtual learning to the forefront.
As K–12 schools and colleges and universities make complex decisions around future technology needs, many administrators are looking to the cloud for answers. This article identifies the five top motivators that are driving institutions to embrace the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud—not just as an emergency solution but as a long-term answer to ongoing student and staff needs. Real-world implementations are included to exemplify how AWS Education Competency Partners can give schools fast, flexible access to the cloud.
Top Five Motivators
1. Cost Savings
With shrinking government funding, enrollment pressure, and unplanned costs, budgets are an ongoing concern for both K–12 school districts and higher education institutions. Schools are looking for the most cost-effective technology solutions. Today, technology needs to do more and cost less, be more flexible, and scale easily. The AWS Cloud offers scalability and pay-as-you-go opportunities that make it simple for schools to quickly and efficiently adjust cost based on budget restrictions and shifting priorities.
Real-World Implementations: M&S and StackArmor
M&S and StackArmor have made cost-effectiveness a priority in their work with K–12 schools and higher education institutions.
According to M&S, higher education is at a key juncture where many institutions are targeting more diverse populations of students while dealing with smaller budgets. Its AWS-focused solutions offer schools a wide range of opportunities to leverage the cloud on a budget, depending on scale and needs.
StackArmor, meanwhile, designs right-sized solutions that are tailored to education institutions. The partner helps schools and higher education institutions reduce costs and improve efficiencies by using automation and a number of self-service tools.
2. Data Insights
Increasingly, institutional leadership is recognizing that making smart, efficient decisions requires having access to the right data in real time. Data lakes and simple-to-use data visualization tools are essential not only for making decisions but also for communicating those decisions effectively with communities and stakeholders.
Real-World Implementations: NorthBay and Slalom
AWS Education Competency Partner NorthBay knows that to deliver insights in a timely manner, organizations need a data storage and analytics solution that offers more agility and flexibility. Creating adaptable data solutions to help schools navigate tough decisions is a foundation of its business model.
AWS Competency Partner Slalom sees data visualization and accessibility as top priorities. In a recent case study, Slalom shared its work with a public school district in a major metropolitan area. Slalom said, "We defined 'helpful' as the core of our approach. It means we break down data. We spell it out. We teach it and explain it. We make it visual, and we make it easy."
3. Innovation
A key differentiator for the cloud is innovation. Schools want the flexibility to explore and experiment with new systems in a way that is simple and cost-adaptive, and AWS answers the call. During the COVID-19 pandemic, innovation has become an even higher priority as schools realized they could no longer rely on traditional systems or delivery methods used during in-person instruction. From enabling small-group discussions to handing back grades on tests, administrators needed innovations that would empower teachers and professors to move their entire teaching model online.
Real-World Implementations: InterVision and Enquizit
AWS Competency Partner InterVision understands how the cloud can help relieve the burden that COVID-19 has placed on school systems. Recently, the provider supported a major community college system's transition to AWS. InterVision helped the provider increase its business agility while accommodating varied forms of in-person and remote learning during the pandemic.
AWS Competency Partner Enquizit's mission is to "challenge conventional educational models." In a period when conventional teaching-delivery models are no longer an option, this is a particularly appealing skillset.
4. Workplace Flexibility and Security
The role of schools and higher education institutions go way beyond teaching, and non-teaching staff also need support. In 2020, schools started looking for ways to make it easier for staff to work from home—and for systems that work securely on any home device at any time. Migrating to the AWS Cloud brings greater workplace flexibility. App streaming and virtual desktops allow employees to use the applications they need on their home devices without compromising security.
Real-World Implementations: CloudHesive and Sierra-Cedar
Many schools don't realize that the cloud services they use for students also work for staff. AWS Partner CloudHesive encourages its clients to take advantage of the flexibility of the AWS Cloud to deploy more current services with elastic capacity.
Another AWS Partner, Sierra-Cedar, was already accustomed to leveraging AWS Cloud services to manage unprecedented emergencies. In one case study, a major university's data center, located in the basement of the library, sustained extensive water and smoke damage as a result of a three-alarm roof fire. With only a few days to meet an upcoming deadline that required the PeopleSoft HR system to be operational for payroll processing and transmission, the Sierra-Cedar team migrated production HR systems to the AWS Cloud over a three-day weekend.
5. Learning Continuity
After a lengthy school shutdown, staff, teachers, and administrators have one goal in mind: to maintain learning continuity. To do so, schools need to provide students with the resources they need to thrive, including accessible systems that allow students to leverage their own devices for use at home. Leveraging AWS Cloud technology like Amazon AppStream 2.0 enables learning to continue through any emergency and gives students equal access to the tools they need to thrive.
Real-World Implementations: Onica and Unicon
AWS Education Competency Partners Onica and Unicon offer cloud-based computer labs as one possible solution.
Onica notes, "Most universities are fully enrolled, meaning classroom and lab space are at a premium. Most constraints are caused by physical workstations." Desktop as a service is the solution to replace buying expensive real estate and maintaining upgrades and equipment. And, it's a game changer during a pandemic when everyone is at home.
Unicon brings both a problem and a solution to light. As the fall semester is in full swing, the computer lab is no longer accessible. With AppStream in place and already configured to deliver software to the appropriate students, the software can be accessed securely and easily through the student's computer—any type of computer. Instruction can continue as normal, with the computer lab software still available for use.
A Long-Term Solution
Many K–12 schools and colleges and universities have migrated to the cloud in 2020 to respond to the crisis, but the benefits of AWS extend well beyond the current pandemic. The scalability, cost-effectiveness, and innovation of the AWS Cloud that has been a lifesaver during COVID-19 will continue to be relevant as schools and higher education institutions face a fundamental shift in the way they approach education. Tapping an AWS Education Competency Partner helps schools get there faster and more efficiently, helping to make sure that they are leveraging every advantage that the cloud has to offer.
Annie Chechitelli is Leader, US Education Business Development, at Amazon Web Services.
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