CAUDIT Cloud aims to cut costs & boost IT in Australasian universities

CAUDIT has partnered with Macquarie Cloud Services to launch a cloud system aimed at supporting the financial and operational demands of higher education and research institutions in Australasia.

The partnership introduces CAUDIT Cloud, a platform designed to address challenges such as budget pressures, increasing compliance requirements, and expanding volumes of data within the sector. The service is underpinned by enterprise-grade infrastructure and is intended to make advanced computing services, including artificial intelligence (AI), more accessible without the need for significant capital outlay.

CAUDIT Cloud was developed following concerns that current IT infrastructure across much of Australia's research and education sector is not sufficiently equipped to handle mounting technological requirements. The platform provides institutions with a secure and flexible solution for upgrading their IT environments.

Greg Sawyer, Chief Executive Officer of CAUDIT, said, "This collaboration gives our member institutions across Australasia an opportunity to take advantage of AI and cloud technologies in a cost-effective and safe way with a trusted vendor."

Macquarie Cloud Services, known for its work with public sector and business clients, is supplying the infrastructure for CAUDIT Cloud. The platform has been developed to simplify procurement processes for universities and other research organisations, addressing the complexity and expense that can accompany cloud environment adoption.

Jonathan Staff, Head of Private Cloud at Macquarie Cloud Services, explained the importance of adaptability for education and research clients. "The needs of the Australasian education and research sector are shifting and will continue to evolve. We set out with the aim to help the sector navigate uncertainty by providing choice, flexibility, and a cost-effective cloud solution through our collaboration with CAUDIT," Staff said. "CAUDIT Cloud is about more than just technology – it's about giving universities and research institutions the flexibility and safety to future-proof their IT supply chains and environments with a solution that is secure, sovereign, and ready to evolve."

The joint initiative comes at a time when universities and research institutions are managing tighter budgets and must address the growing costs associated with IT infrastructure. Many organisations have expressed concern about the financial implications of upgrading technology while continuing to meet regulatory and data management obligations.

Sawyer highlighted the alignment between CAUDIT Cloud and CAUDIT's organisational goals. "The strength of this initiative lies in how well it's aligned with CAUDIT's purpose – creating value for our members. This collaboration gives our member institutions across Australasia an opportunity to take advantage of AI and cloud technologies in a cost-effective and safe way with a trusted vendor," he said. "Macquarie Cloud Services are experts in reducing cloud cost while mitigating risk and are in a great position to support our members as they prepare to meet the challenges of the future."

CAUDIT Cloud's design is intended to alleviate the difficulties faced by institutions reliant on legacy systems by offering them access to modern, high-performance computing capabilities. Institutions will also benefit from a simplified procurement process that does not require significant upfront investment.

Staff said, "CAUDIT Cloud gives universities more choice, reduces procurement complexity, and enables them to adopt cutting-edge technologies without significant upfront expenditure."

The launch of CAUDIT Cloud is set to provide universities and research bodies with a standardised, pre-vetted option for upgrading their digital environments, with emphasis on cost management and operational resilience.