Question

thoughts and feedback on this?

With a tight budget, I would use both cloud computing and virtualization, thus using a hybrid approach. Also some of our campuses servers would be local and others not. There are many reasons but the main reasons would be:
- Redundancy and backups
- Hybrid environments for students and faculty to practice on
- To keep up with the pace of technology
For convenience, we'd use both Azure and AWS for cloud computing and virtualization. I would also suggest the usage for ALL students, staff and faculty on Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) which is a super new technology released in September-ish of 2019. This combines the features of cloud computing and virtualization. It's the best of both...actually, all worlds. I think in the coming months, many companies will transition over to WVD (Universities have become businesses, right?) due to it lower cost, higher convenience and overall compatibility.
Servers that hold student, staff and faculty databases would absolutely be hosted in a private cloud environment.
I think a better question here would be, what network services would I move to a private cloud environment and what others would I move to a shared cloud environment?
Also, considering that the way of the future is pointing towards cloud computing, what happens when internet service (bandwidth) becomes overloaded and thus drops or decreases drastically in performance? Maybe 5G will save the day? Or maybe 6G? Or maybe always having local servers running in the background just in case.

Answer 1

My Suggestions and Feedback

Dear Friend,

Well! First of all, I feel very happy by looking into the way of your technical analysis and implementation under tight budget.

I would like to take up your summary into points and simultaneously adding my suggestion/feedback along with it.

POINT 1:

• You said, you are following a hybrid appraoch of using both cloud computing and virtualization, under tight budget.

MY SUGGESTION / FEEDBACK:

Really, its a very good move(in-terms of thinking ahead of future) where you chose cloud computing and virtualization technique for your business needs.

POINT 2:

• And you said, some of your campus servers are local and some other kinds of servers are not maintained in local environment. This is based on many reasons and you have particularly mentioned the reasons are,

- Redundancy and backups.
- Hybrid environments for students and faculty to practice on.
- To keep up with the pace of technology.

MY SUGGESTION / FEEDBACK:

As consider your campus environment and setups, this is a clean go based on your reasons. Nothing more to suggest as of me.

POINT 3:

• And you said, "For convenience, we'd use both Azure and AWS for cloud computing and virtualization. I would also suggest the usage for ALL students, staff and faculty on Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD) which is a super new technology released in September-ish of 2019. This combines the features of cloud computing and virtualization. It's the best of both...actually, all worlds. I think in the coming months, many companies will transition over to WVD (Universities have become businesses, right?) due to it lower cost, higher convenience and overall compatibility."

MY SUGGESTION / FEEDBACK:

More than of considering it as convinient, as a software professional where I would like to suggest the same technologies( Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services(AWS)) are the right choice for cloud computing and virtualization technique.

Then, the Windows Virutual Desktop (WVD). Yes, this is one among the coolest way of organizing things under cloud computing and virtualization technique. Please, Go ahead!

As you mentioned, Microsoft Azure + AWS + WVD are the perfect choice. Of-couse, the software service cost is bearable.

Also, I would like to (just) share my knowledge about other cloud computing softwares/services available in the markets with you.

Cloud Computing Services

• 1] Microsoft Cloud Services.
• 2] IBM Cloud.
• 3] Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud.
• 4] Citrix Cloud Platform.
• 5] Joyent Cloud.
• 6] BlueLock Cloud Services.
• 7] Verizon Cloud.

POINT 4:

• Servers that hold student, staff and faculty databases would absolutely be hosted in a private cloud environment.

MY SUGGESTION / FEEDBACK:

Absolutely! There is no second thought in this regards. And, Micorsoft Azure has such configuration to keep up the data in a private mode.

POINT 5:

• I think a better question here would be, what network services would I move to a private cloud environment and what others would I move to a shared cloud environment?

MY SUGGESTION / FEEDBACK:

I would recommend the best network services is from, "Cisco Data Center | Best Private Cloud‎". And, please go through the following link for more standards and benefits: https://www.cisco.com

POINT 6:

• Also, considering that the way of the future is pointing towards cloud computing, what happens when internet service (bandwidth) becomes overloaded and thus drops or decreases drastically in performance? Maybe 5G will save the day? Or maybe 6G? Or maybe always having local servers running in the background just in case.

MY SUGGESTION / FEEDBACK:

For this doubt, I would say the current features itself are having various solutions. And, when we talk about performance on cloud, that would be measure under various parameters. Hope, Microsoft Azure has lot of stability points to provide such performance and guidance. So, we no need to worry about in relate with future 5G or 6G.

Mostly, the major IT works are shifting to cloud and so the pros and cons part are carefully monitored, analysed and the solutions made. So, we have to follow-up this trends always to make assure our work with cloud and virtualization techniques for stabilization and maintenance.

Neverthelsess, the Local servers are not going to be the remedy for or on any such circumstances with cloud computing performance part, where the cloud providers should have the remedy part on it(Kindly, go through the corresponding manuals).

Yes, you could go ahead with your business setup and proceedings!

And, All the very best wishes!