Cloud Computing in Swiss Higher Education Institutions

Abstract

This applied research analyzes how cloud computing is currently used within Swiss higher education and then demonstrates how Swiss higher education can leverage cloud computing to their benefit. There are two case studies conducted, one at ETH Zurich that represents an example of a university and the second one at FHNW that represents a University of Applied Sciences. During the research a total of 8 interviews were conducted. The means that such an institution can leverage cloud computing to their benefit are provided in the form of Reference Service Classification Scheme, a Reference Cloud Architecture and a Reference Cloud Transformation Process. To ensure that the solutions are compatible with other current developments existing initiatives in the area are taken into account. The goal of the Service Classification Scheme is to get an indicator for which deployment model and service model seams most suitable, what kind of benefit is prospected and also to get a recommendation regarding possible solutions, recommended action and a priority for the services. A proof of concept was performed on the IT service catalogue of the two case studies. In the Reference Cloud Architecture four domains are defined. In the Business Domain the roles, service management and processes are described, the data domain is used to provide a possible data landscape. Within the Application Domain a cloud application landscape based on the classification is given. In the Technology Domain, the hybrid cloud landscape, resource provisioning and a private cloud architecture are described....