Cloud Computing

The Cloud Computing Service provides access to, and management of, a range of cloud computing technologies, including but not limited to: virtual servers, data storage, serverless application hosting, and container orchestration. The service provides a range of options, including on-premise and vendor-hosted solutions, as well as WashU IT- and customer-managed solutions.

Outcomes

  • Constrain on-premise data-center growth to avoid significant future capital expenses
  • Empower advanced research through rapidly scalable cloud computing and storage resources
  • Improve teaching, research, and patient care by providing access to, and support for, cutting-edge technologies available on cloud platforms
  • Maintain high uptime and availability for WashU computing and storage resources

Requirements & Considerations

  • Customers must be a current employee of Washington University in St. Louis
  • Customers must provide a funding source (FIS Charge number, PO Number, etc.) when requesting services

Features & Options

Available Options
  • Virtual Servers – Hosting of virtual servers, management of server OS and underlying infrastructure
    • Location options:
      • On-Premise
      • Off-Premise (Azure)
    • DR (disaster recovery) protection:
      • RTO: less than 4 hours, RPO: less than 1 minute (no at-rest data loss)
    • Backup options:
      • Option 1: Daily backups for 35 days, monthly backups for 18 months
      • Option 2: Daily backups for 35 days, monthly backups for 6 months
      • Option 3: Daily backups for 35 days, monthly backups for 1 month
      • Opt out: No backups
      • (Backup options 1, 2, and 3 include extra-regional backup copies)
    • Patch options:
      • Patch Window 0: Second Tuesday of Month, 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
      • Patch Window 1: First Sunday following Second Tuesday of Month, 12:01 a.m. – 4:00 a.m.
      • Patch Window 2: Second Sunday following Second Tuesday of Month, 12:01 a.m. – 4:00 a.m.
  • Storage – Enterprise grade data storage management supporting file storage, VM storage, blob storage, and more.
    • Location options:
      • On-Premise
      • Off-Premise (Azure)
    • Replication options:
      • Option 1: Storage replicated to redundant site every 15 minutes
      • Option 2: Storage replicated to redundant site every 24 hours
      • Opt out: No storage replication
    • Speed options:
      • Standard HDD (spinning disk with flash cache): 50-100MB per sec to read and write
      • Premier SSD (solid state disk): up to 500MB per sec to read and write (coming soon)
  • Cloud Account Management – Access to Public Cloud Platforms via University-negotiated, policy-compliant contracts
  • Advanced Public Cloud Networking:
    • If your planned public cloud deployment requires private network connectivity between the cloud and WashU networks, WashU IT can work with you to provision and connect your public cloud network to the campus network via dedicated, highly available fiberoptic connections. If you are interested in this service option, please reach out to the WashU IT Cloud Systems Team.
Included Features
  • Virtual Servers:
    • OS and Patch Management of Windows and RHEL servers
    • Remote console access (RDP, SSH)
    • Local administrative privileges
    • Controlled Access via Multiple Network Options
    • High Availability – Infrastructure
    • Virtual Machine (VM) Image Backup
    • Server Disaster Recovery
  • Storage:
    • Optional replication to second data center location
  • Cloud Account Management:
    • University negotiated, policy compliant contracts with select public cloud vendors
    • Account Management
    • University Billing
    • Access to cloud consoles via WUSTL Key login
    • HIPAA BAA (select vendors)
    • Service Discounts

Service Level Expectations (SLE)

Cloud Computing Service Request SLEs:

Service Request
Fulfillment Target
New Virtual Server 3 business days
Virtual Server size adjustments 3 business days
New storage allocation 3 business days
New Azure subscription 3 business days
New AWS accounts 5 business days
New GCP Project 3 business days

Cloud Computing Support Request SLEs:

Priority
Description
Response Target
Resolution Target
Critical Global Issues Business critical issues – impacting ability to perform mission Issues affecting multiple users unable to be productive 15 minutes 4 hours
High Issues affecting individual or multiple users with no workaround available 1 hour 1 business day
Medium Default priority assigned to all tickets. Issues affecting multiple users with workaround available. 1 business day 3 business days
Low Issues affecting individual users with workaround available 2 business days 5 business days

The Cloud Computing Service follows the Infrastructure Hosting bundle of SLEs (PDF).

Training and How-To

Rates (PDF)
Request this Service