Azure Cloud Partnership

Cloud computing through Microsoft Azure for specific research needs.

Overview

Through our continued partnership with Microsoft Azure, we can support research computing needs in the cloud. This option is available for specific scenarios where on-premises resources don’t align with research requirements.

Funding Required
Azure cloud computing involves pay-per-use costs that will be billed to your project. You’ll work with our business office to set up billing arrangements through a chartstring. Costs vary based on resources used (compute time, storage, data transfer, GPU hours, etc.).

When Azure is Appropriate

Cloud solutions may be appropriate when:

  • Specific timelines: Project deadlines that can’t accommodate cluster queue times
  • Dedicated resources: Need guaranteed access for extended periods
  • Azure-specific services: Research requires Azure ML, specific cloud APIs, or integrations
  • Grant-funded cloud work: Project budget specifically allocated for cloud computing
  • Scalability beyond on-prem: Temporary need for resources beyond our infrastructure
  • Custom environments: Need specific configurations not available on-premises

What Azure Offers

Compute Options

  • Virtual Machines: On-demand VMs with various CPU/memory configurations
  • GPU Instances: High-end NVIDIA GPUs available for accelerated computing
  • Custom Endpoints: Tailored cloud services for specific needs

Services

  • Azure ML: Machine learning platform and model deployment services
  • Scalable Storage: Blob storage, file shares, managed databases
  • Specialized Services: Various Azure cloud services for research workflows

Cost Structure

Pay-per-use model:

  • Charged by usage (compute hours, storage GB, data transfer, GPU hours)
  • Costs scale with continuous use
  • Different resource types have different rates
  • Data egress charges may apply

Important considerations:

  • Budget planning required upfront
  • Costs can accumulate quickly with 24/7 usage
  • Monitor usage to stay within budget
  • Stop/deallocate resources when not in use

Cost comparison: For most workloads, our on-premises clusters provide substantially more computational capacity at no direct charge than equivalent cloud spending would deliver. We’ll help analyze whether cloud is cost-effective for your specific needs.

Business Office Coordination

Using Azure requires working with Syracuse University’s business office:

  1. Chartstring required: Cloud costs billed to your project account
  2. Budget approval: Ensure funding is available and authorized for cloud computing
  3. Setup process: We coordinate with business office for billing configuration
  4. Ongoing monitoring: You’ll receive usage reports and cost tracking

Getting Started with Azure

During your consultation, we’ll review:

  1. Whether cloud computing is appropriate for your research
  2. Estimated costs based on your requirements
  3. Funding source and budget availability
  4. Business office billing setup process
  5. Alternative on-premises options that may better suit your needs
  6. Custom environment or endpoint requirements

Interested in Azure Cloud Computing?
📧 Email researchcomputing@syr.edu with:

  • Your research project and timeline
  • Why you’re considering cloud computing
  • Your funding source, chartstring, and budget
  • Computational requirements (CPU, GPU, storage, services needed)

We’ll schedule a consultation to review options and help determine if cloud computing is the right fit - or if our on-premises resources can meet your needs more cost-effectively.