Posted on in ITS in Action

As part of a strategic shift in IT infrastructure, Information Technology Services (ITS) is preparing to transition away from the concept of a traditional data center model and embrace the power and flexibility of Microsoft Azure. This initiative, currently in its pilot phase, is designed to modernize how departments access and manage digital services—making operations more agile, cost-effective, and secure.

Why Azure?

Azure is a public cloud platform offered by Microsoft, enabling users to host virtual machines, deploy containers, and utilize a wide range of native services—all without the need for large hardware investments. Unlike George Mason’s on-site data center, Azure allows departments to scale resources up or down quickly and only pay for what they use.

This shift is not just about technology—it’s about enablement. The goal is to empower faculty, staff, and departments to launch and manage their own services with minimal reliance on ITS, while still maintaining the university’s high standards for security and compliance.

The Pilot Program

Three pilot groups—each with unique use cases—are beginning to test the Azure environment this fall. These groups will help determine whether the platform meets the university’s needs and how it can be best implemented across campus. If successful, the service will be rolled out more broadly, offering a self-service model that allows users to access cloud resources independently.

Benefits at a Glance

  • Agility: Quickly stand up and tear down environments without long procurement cycles.
  • Cost Efficiency: Pay only for what you use—no need for upfront hardware purchases.
  • Security & Compliance: Built-in controls ensure all environments meet university standards.
  • Self-Service Access: Departments can manage their own subscriptions while ITS provides oversight and support.

Looking Ahead

The long-term vision is clear: move away from legacy infrastructure and toward a future where innovation is not limited by hardware constraints. Azure will enable departments to experiment, build, and grow—securely and efficiently.

As this initiative progresses, more information will be shared to help others across the university understand how to get started, what resources are available, and how to ensure compliance. For now, the focus is on learning from the pilot groups and refining the service to meet the university’s diverse needs