Cloud Adoption and Universities Using Cloud
Universities in the information age employ modern information technology (IT) to meet the needs and expectations of their students. Universities must structure themselves according to current IT demands and technologically refresh themselves. Cloud computing is one of the most well-known new technologies these days. This technology has several applications in finance, health, insurance, automobile, and military, as well as in the education sector.
Let us look at the impact of cloud-based technology on university education:
- Cloud technology offers significant advantages for the education sector regarding time and money savings, experiencing more flexibility in access and scalability.
- Individuals may access information saved in the Cloud from anywhere with a stable internet connection.
- Instructors can receive submissions while away from the office.
- Students can access lecture notes and correspondence during term holidays.
- Cloud-based technology enables universities to scale up and down the infrastructures without buying or selling any extra hardware, such as external hard drives.
How did Universities take up Cloud during the Rise of Covid-19?
COVID-19 has caused schools and universities all across the world to close. Over 1.2 billion students have been away from education worldwide. As a result, education has undergone significant transformations with the emergence of e-learning, in which instruction is done remotely and via digital platforms.
With the abrupt move away from the classroom in many areas of the world, some question whether online learning adoption would continue post-pandemic and how such a shift might affect the global education industry.
Even before COVID-19, education technology was seeing rapid expansion and acceptance. There has been a considerable increase in the utilization of language applications, virtual tutoring, video conferencing tools, and online learning software.
The ongoing pandemic led universities to take up Cloud or migrate to a more stable cloud provider for better and more effective education. With a cloud service provider, tracking and analyzing student performance is an easier way out.
Learning and teaching online had always existed, but the worldwide lockdown was one of the most compelling reasons universities took up the Cloud more quickly than ever. Not to mention the problems listed above, there are also serious concerns that kids and instructors encounter while using technology to study. The Cloud has greatly aided in making the learning process more efficient and safer. The progress of the Cloud has been advantageous in overcoming all of the challenges that students, instructors, administration, and management have faced so far.
Fact Check: With worldwide edtech investments reaching US$18.66 billion in 2019, the whole industry for online education is expected to reach $350 billion by 2025.
Some Myths About Cloud Adoption by Universities
1. Technology takes over teachers– Despite its market values, many people still believe the Cloud is a new technology in its infancy and requires refinement.
In actuality, the Cloud has been fine-tuned for a long time. Any further refinement and innovations would only enhance an already excellent service. If one considers AWS the mainstreaming of cloud computing, it’s a technology nearing 20 years in the business. Professors and teachers need not be worried about Cloud taking over and making it difficult for them. Cloud only makes it easier and more convenient, acting as an advancement.
2. Security, a challenge– The Cloud is not inherently dangerous. It is just as safe as a traditional data centre when utilized correctly. We have yet to encounter a situation where the cloud architecture was abused. There have been no findings of weaknesses in the cloud provider’s code or infrastructure, just improper cloud settings or insecure customer code.
Giving and managing rights to design a cloud environment exposes vulnerabilities, frequently the source of security difficulties for many businesses. Universities on the cloud experience a hassle-free, safe environment with protection and backup services already as a safety measure.
3. Complexities, difficulty in managing– Managing updates and changes in the workspace is not always straightforward. When it comes to online teaching, a teacher’s thorough comprehension of every new feature or technology is necessary; a better understanding of the instructor helps the best grasp of the pupils. Teachers’ inappropriate and inadequate knowledge can sometimes disrupt the study session.
4. High-cost structure– The common misconception regarding the Cloud is that it always saves money. This is true in some cases, but there are several additional reasons to migrate to the Cloud, the most prevalent being agility.
All company decisions, including cloud ones, are ultimately driven by financial considerations. The cost is still an issue, even if the end aim is agility.
Even though many institutes recognize the advancements achieved by technology and the changes it may bring to the education industry, many are hesitant to accept this transformation due to budget constraints. Institutes, particularly public ones, have limited finances and cannot implement modern technologies on their grounds.
A Few Facts About Cloud
1. Simplifying the Job – Cloud technology has enabled professors to evaluate and analyze students’ performance simply and conveniently. It also promotes remote education by facilitating online education platforms wherein faculties and students can interact with each other without any hassles.
2. Frequent Updates – Using the Cloud makes updating a breeze. Cloud providers do not need to come to one’s place of business to deploy an upgrade. They may activate the patch online, and the organization will reap the benefits regardless of location. Patch management is a critical component of cloud operations. Cloud maintenance will become just as vital as physical workstation upkeep.
Application performance monitoring is a related field. The demand for cloud professionals to ensure that everything runs well is rising. Compliance monitoring is also vital since it ensures cloud service providers provide the required services.
3. Long-term cost savings– Organizations no longer have to acquire and manage their IT infrastructure, thanks to Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) cloud computing. Everything can be housed in the Cloud, making it cost-effective, on-demand, secure, quick, dependable, and expandable. In recent years educational institutions have gradually shifted their on-premise infrastructure to the Cloud. Physical infrastructure purchases and maintenance are expensive, and many colleges have been forced to trim their budgets due to the epidemic, hastening their shift to cloud-based technologies.
4. Resource Availability– A cloud-based education platform also improves physical and digital access to materials. It allows students to access the same materials and learning tools independent of the devices or web browsers. Virtual solutions like cloud computing also provide students with continual learning possibilities. Students with mobility difficulties or learning disabilities can obtain individualized educational packages that meet their requirements.
What is Rapyder’s contribution to the universities’ cloud adoption?
An agile, innovative company that provides edtech and universities with seamless, secure, and scalable cloud solutions. Rapyder’s team works to give the universities the best-in-class services to help them achieve their goals.
Rapyder recognizes the issues that universities encounter while embracing Cloud and offers a unique solution. We assist some educational institutions in completing their cloud migration journeys and successfully expanding their businesses. Rapyder has collaborated with NMIMS, a leading management university in India, to migrate their workloads with a suitable cloud service provider.
Read the case study to understand how Rapyder helped NMIMS reduce their running cost by adopting Cloud.
Conclusion
In the education industry, cloud computing use is at an all-time high. It does, however, have a long way to go, beginning with sufficient training for educators and pupils. Hundreds of cloud infrastructures have also lately developed with the promise of managing and facilitating the most extraordinary computer services.
Universities should look out for facts while adopting Cloud more than myths. Colleges should look for a more seamless experience for cloud service providers with sufficient knowledge, a speedier migration process, lower costs, and unified cloud governance.
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