At UMBC, we leverage modern cloud computing technologies to deliver reliable, scalable, and secure IT services that support our academic, research, and administrative missions. Cloud computing enables us to move beyond the limitations of traditional on-premise infrastructure and take advantage of flexible, cost-effective solutions offered by public cloud providers.
Public Cloud Infrastructure
UMBC primarily utilizes Amazon Web Services (AWS) as our public cloud platform. A significant portion of our IT infrastructure is hosted in AWS, including:
- PeopleSoft ERP – supporting HR, finance, and student systems (Campus Solutions)
- myUMBC – our campus portal
- Data Engineering and Administration – supporting institutional data integration, analysis, and reporting
In addition to AWS, we also use Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) for select services and projects where they provide strategic value.
What is IaaS?
UMBC primarily uses the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) model in the cloud. IaaS provides virtualized computing resources over the internet, such as virtual machines, storage, and networking. This allows our IT teams to deploy and manage systems without the need to procure and maintain physical hardware.
With IaaS, we can quickly scale resources up or down based on demand, enhance system availability, and streamline disaster recovery processes.
Cloud computing is a foundational part of UMBC’s IT strategy, supporting our commitment to providing high-performance, secure, and forward-looking technology services.