Institute for Data Engineering and Science Launches New Cloud Computing Hub

Thanks to support from Microsoft, the new IDEaS Cloud Hub will provide faculty and students with new opportunities and resources for both education and research for those wishing to use the cloud for their computational needs.

“Microsoft has been a consistent and generous supporter of IDEaS since its inception, contributing funding for research and events, and providing cloud resources for research and education at Georgia Tech as well as for supporting programs under the South Big Data Hub,” said Srinivas Aluru, executive director of IDEaS. “The launch of the Cloud Hub takes this relationship to the next level and reflects our ongoing commitment to partnership.”

Umakishore Ramachandran, IDEaS thrust lead for cloud computing, will manage the Cloud Hub for IDEaS. Under Ramachandran’s guidance, faculty and researchers can request resources and further Cloud Hub-based projects. 

“Cloud computing is a disruptive technology that is powering many aspects of our everyday lives,” said Ramachandran. “Research at Georgia Tech already touches various aspects of Cloud computing spanning systems, machine learning, and data analytics.  Cloud Hub launched with Microsoft partnership, facilitates access to Cloud resources for education and research, ensuring that our students will graduate with immersion into this important technology.”

The Hub will utilize Microsoft Azure, a growing collection of integrated cloud services that researchers and educators use to build, deploy, and manage applications through the global network of data centers. Azure provides the freedom to build and deploy wherever the user wants, using the tools, applications, and frameworks they choose. 

"The Cloud Hub represents an exciting new direction in how we use computing infrastructure to advance research and education at Georgia Tech,” said Vivek Sarkar, chair, School of Computer Science, professor and Stephen Fleming Chair for Telecommunications. “Industry partnership is critical to growing this direction on campus, and we are grateful to Microsoft for their partnership to get us started.”

Not only will Microsoft help move the Hub in the right direction, their continuous innovation will also ensure Tech faculty and researchers are future-ready.

“We are thrilled to partner with Georgia Tech at this capacity,” said Yousef Khalidi, corporate vice president, Azure for Operators, Microsoft. “The Cloud Hub will provide Georgia Tech faculty and researchers cloud and edge computing technology and solutions, allowing them to realize new opportunities.”