Public Cloud Services
Computing Services maintains agreements with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Microsoft Azure that allow CMU community members to access public cloud services with university data at a discounted rate. We provide a no-cost consultation to connect you with a solution that meets your needs, as well as support for provisioning and de-provisioning.
Public cloud services provide access to more platforms and specialized computing resources than those hosted in the university’s data center, allowing for a greater variety of supported use cases.
Benefits
- No-cost consultation and guidance on cloud strategies
- Discounted rates, direct billing, and Net30 invoicing from approved vendors
- Provisioning and de-provisioning support under pre-negotiated contract terms
- Pre-defined default budgets and alerts for cost management
- Single sign-on to cloud consoles using your Andrew userID
- Access to campus network resources (optional)
Eligibility
- Faculty, staff, and students with administrative or academic computing needs
Request
If you’re interested in setting up an account with one of our public cloud providers or want to learn more, request a no-cost consultation. Students should include a faculty or staff member associated with their project in their consultation.
Fees
- Public cloud costs on a pay-as-you-go model, paying only for what you use
- CMU community members may pay via purchase order or Oracle string.
- Depending on the scope of your project, you may need to follow the University IT Portfolio Management (UITPM) process and receive approval from university leadership.
Pricing Calculators
- AWS Pricing Calculator
- GCP Pricing Calculator
- Azure Pricing Calculator
Note: Azure charges an additional 10% support fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why shouldn't I set up a cloud services account myself?
By working with Computing Services to set up an account with AWS, GCP, or Azure, you can take advantage of discounted rates and contract terms that have already been approved by the University Contracts Office. You can also protect your account with Single Sign-On (SSO) using your Andrew userID, and two-factor authentication with DUO.
We also provide a no-cost consultation to connect you with a solution that meets your needs, as well as support for provisioning and de-provisioning.
Why choose public cloud services over CMU’s internal hosting services?
Public cloud services provide access to more platforms, new technologies,, and specialized computing resources than services hosted in the university’s data center, allowing for a greater variety of supported use cases.
CMU’s internal hosting services, like Campus Cloud and Physical Co-Location Services, are limited by the hardware, space, and operational resources currently available at the university. Public cloud services provide essentially limitless computing possibilities, constrained only by your budget.
Are Public Cloud Services secure?
AWS, GCP, and Azure have robust security measures to protect your data. Further, by working with Computing Services to set up your account, you gain additional security with Single-Sign-On (SSO) using your Andrew user ID and authentication with DUO.
To learn more about the security measures in place for each service, visit their websites:
How do I choose between AWS, GCP, and Azure?
It may be difficult to choose a cloud service provider.
Some CMU community members may have existing credits or funding for a particular service, or they may be looking for a feature or experience that is specific to one of them.
If you’re unsure, request a no-cost consultation with Computing Services. We’ll work with you to assess your needs and connect you with the best possible solution.
I think Public Cloud Services are right for me, but I’m not sure.
If you think Public Cloud Services may be right for you but you’re unsure, request a no-cost consultation with Computing Services. We’ll work with you to assess your needs and connect you with the best possible solution.
