Public Cloud Broker
Last Updated: 02/25/2021
Public Cloud Broker provides access to centrally managed cloud services for administrative, teaching & learning, and research needs. This includes new and existing applications, big data workloads and other workloads well suited to the major public cloud services.
OIT is continuing to build a more robust cloud broker service (see table below for details), with the following offerings:
- Foundational Baselines (e.g AWS Public Data Hybrid)
- Consulting (e.g. Architectural consultation, Cost Optimization)
Snapshot Build Out Status
 Amazon Web Services |
|
| Enterprise Agreement |  |
| Enterprise IAM Integration | |
| Public Data Account Baseline | |
| Highly Confidential Account Baseline |  |
| HC Data OIS Onboarding Process | |
| Network Hub or Direct Network Peering | |
| Shared Services (DNS, AD, etc) |  |
| Billing and Financial Processes | * |
| Engagement/Onboarding Support | |
| Common Application Components Library | |
 Azure |
|
| Enterprise Agreement | |
| Enterprise IAM Integration | |
| Public Data Account Baseline | * |
| Highly Confidential Account Baseline | |
| HC Data OIS Onboarding Process | |
| Network Hub or Direct Network Peering | |
| Shared Services (DNS, AD, etc) | |
| Billing and Financial Processes | * |
| Engagement/Onboarding Support | * |
| Common Application Components Library | |
 Google Cloud Platform |
|
| Enterprise Agreement | |
| Enterprise IAM Integration | |
| Public Data Account Baseline | |
| Highly Confidential Account Baseline | |
| HC Data OIS Onboarding Process | |
| Network Hub or Direct Network Peering | |
| Shared Services (DNS, AD, etc) | |
| Billing and Financial Processes | |
| Engagement/Onboarding Support | |
| Common Application Components Library | |
- Done - Incomplete/Issues - Not Started* - Work set for AY20-21
Features & Benefits
Public cloud benefits, in general, include:
- Scalable and elastic compute
- Fractional consumption
- Eliminates need to purchase hardware for “peak” consumption
- Improves speed of delivery
- Allows for innovation – quick successes and quick fail trials
- Shortened time to market
- Improves service levels
- Improves access to data
How to get it
In the current state of the cloud broker service, faculty and staff can request the following services:
- AWS account setup: For assistance with creation of AWS accounts for departments for hosting Public Data and for any of the three networking options (Cloud Only, Campus Only, Hybrid), please contact the IT Service Center at oithelp@colorado.edu or 303-735-4357.
- Public Cloud Consultation: Though not currently staffed to provide full consultation services, an appointment can be made on a time available basis. Please visit the OIT Public Cloud Broker Consulting calendar to book an appointment.
Not every workload is well suited to public cloud - please review Choosing Cloud for important considerations when making this decision.
*Note: AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform were each evaluated across their compute, storage, network, security, service offerings, support, management, and financial aspects. While OIT plans to offer access over time to all three leading public clouds through our Cloud Broker Service, AWS met the highest number of requirements in the evaluation and our initial offerings will be based on AWS, with Azure and GCP to follow.
Cost
Public cloud services generally have publicly available cost calculators. All costs for cloud services are paid by the department or unit utilizing the cloud service - there is no central funding available for public cloud services.
OIT does not plan to add to these costs for basic services but may at a later time offer value added services that would have additional charges.
Where possible (e.g. networking, cost management, etc.) OIT will look to provide shared services that may save on the overall campus cost for use of a particular cloud platform.