Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


Microsoft Promotes Azure as Alternative to Physical Computer Labs

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 11/19/18

Microsoft is hoping to replace the concept of the physical computer lab on campus with its cloud-based version. The company already has DevTest Labs for test environments. Now it's promoting Azure Lab Services to enable a campus to set up an environment, provision Windows or Linux virtual machines, install the software and tools that are needed and make them available to users.

Lab users use a registration code to connect to virtual machines and use them for class work. Users may be limited to exactly the applications they need access to and the number of hours they're allowed on the virtual machines.

The lab "owner" or "creator" can set lab schedules to automatically shut down and start up virtual machines; specify the time slots when the lab's virtual machines are accessible to users; set usage policies per user or per lab to optimize cost; and analyze usage and activity trends in a lab. A given lab can be deleted quickly when it's no longer needed.

The cloud service takes care of the infrastructure management for a managed lab, including spinning up the virtual machines and other activities related to scaling the infrastructure.

Information about Azure Lab Services is available on the Microsoft website.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • abstract illustration of artificial intelligence

    CSU Shares AI Learnings in Systemwide Survey

    In a systemwide survey of more than 94,000 faculty, staff, and students, California State University recently documented widespread AI use across its 22 campuses.

  • Businessman using laptop analyzing data and growth graph chart

    AI Budgets in Education Show No Sign of Decline

    The vast majority of education organizations (98%) expect their AI infrastructure budgets to either increase or hold steady over the next year, according to a recent report from cloud storage provider Wasabi.

  • closeup of person wearing abstract smart glasses

    Google Unveils Android XR Smart Glasses, Powered by Gemini AI

    More than a decade after the commercial failure of Google Glass, Google is returning to the smart-glasses market, this time betting that advances in artificial intelligence, miniaturized hardware, and conversational computing can turn wearable devices into a mainstream platform.

  • abstract glowing circuit patterns

    Microsoft Reduces Copilot Integrations in Windows 11

    Microsoft is dialing back its aggressive Copilot push in Windows 11, promising a sweeping quality overhaul that puts performance and reliability ahead of AI feature expansion .