Find out how the University will build a robust digital infrastructure to support learning, teaching, and our current and future digital needs.
Overview
What is it? The Cloud Enablement and Cloud Transformation projects together provide a modern data backup solution and new organisation-wide IT server infrastructure.
Why it's better for you: Moving to this way of working will ensure improved data security, better reliability and resilience, and increased efficiency, without affecting the way you use your applications day to day.
Why it's better for the University: Making use of both modern cloud-based and on-site computing services will enable the University to: accommodate the next five years of demand; be flexible to changing needs; and enable better team collaboration through improved data access.
When it's happening: The Cloud Enablement project was completed in November 2024, rolling out a new data backup solution supplied by Cohesity. The Cloud Transformation project began implementing a new, on-premise, private cloud infrastructure in early 2025.
About the projects
Cloud Enablement and Transformation includes two projects.
The Cloud Enablement project moved us to a modern, cloud-based ‘backup’ data storage facility, replacing much of the existing on-campus tape library. The project completed in 2024 and set up a new data backup system from Cohesity. This new system improves how we protect and recover our data with better features and tools. It also allows us to make backup copies of our servers, both on-site and in the cloud, so we can recover our data if something goes wrong.
The Cloud Transformation project will give us an all-new server and service infrastructure, which will be a mix of on-site and cloud-based services. This will underpin the University’s digital applications for the next five to seven years. In early 2025, we began the migration of 285 servers onto Nutanix hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI). A major re-platforming of the virtual and physical server estate continues through the spring and summer months for review in autumn 2025.
The projects apply to all servers hosting IT applications, apart from those within Research, Engineering and Informatics, and Brighton & Sussex Medical School (BSMS) at the request of the relevant departments.
What is cloud computing?
Cloud computing provides access through the internet to computing resources, data storage and infrastructure management tools, that together provide the platform to deliver business applications and services to the user.
Cloud services may be hosted in different ways including by a public or private cloud services provider, by a software vendor, or on-site, and there are various ways in which the responsibility for management can be shared.
Cloud project benefits
Find out more about the benefits of the Cloud projects below. You can also view this slide for more information.
Business growth
Improved technology and ability to meet increasing business demands across learning, teaching, research and Professional Services.
Efficiency
Removal of unnecessary manual steps to streamline process across staff, student and IT roles to increase productivity and deliver value faster.
User Experience
A robust, resilient, and accessible infrastructure across all devices, allowing users to use IT services irrespective of their physical location, and with an improved service availability to enhance user experience.
Agility
Improved IT Services delivery time, allowing University technology to be implemented, improved, upscaled and removed faster.
Security
The use of modern, secure technologies to improve our cyber security and minimise risk of cyber-attacks.
Environmental
We can reduce our carbon footprint by using consolidated, energy efficient cloud infrastructure both inside and outside of the University premises. We will have a particular focus on the global sustainability impact of our decision making throughout the programme
Cost
It will provide a predictable and adjustable revenue funded model, and a reduction in costs associated with the need to rework old software and systems.