With many institutions reassessing their virtualisation strategy in light of recent VMware licensing changes, conversations across the sector increasingly focus on alternative platforms, long‑term resilience and the future balance between on‑premises and cloud infrastructure. For some, this is also a natural moment to step back and rethink architectures that have been in place for more […]
Tag: Cloud
As we begin a new year, it’s the perfect moment to look back at how OCRE 2024 has shaped cloud adoption across UK research and education since its launch last year. OCRE 2024 officially launched on 3 February 2025, marking the third iteration of GÉANT’s cloud procurement frameworks and the second under the OCRE branding. […]
Overview Microsoft is retiring the legacy MFA and SSPR policies by 30th September 2025 as part of its modernisation path. Migrating to the new Authentication Methods policy offers more precision, central control, and futureproof cloud environment. The new Microsoft Entra ID authentication method policy offers a unified, modern way to manage your organisation’s authentication methods, […]
Introduction Break glass accounts are your emergency lifeline, providing privileged access when the identity system fails and no one can sign in to access organisation resources due to outages, breaches, lockouts, or misconfiguration. These accounts are critical for maintaining control and continuity but must be tightly secured, rarely used, and continuously monitored. ⚠️ Why They […]
Security Best Practices Using Only the Org Settings Portal Microsoft 365 provides robust tools for businesses of all sizes, but with this power comes responsibility. Securing your tenant doesn’t always require premium licenses or access to multiple admin portals. You can significantly improve your organisation’s security posture using only the Microsoft 365 Admin Centre’s “Org […]
Unlocking the full potential of your AWS environment: the case for third-party management in public sector organisations The UK public sector increasingly uses cloud technology to deliver services efficiently and securely. AWS is popular for government departments, educational organisations, and non-profit organisations because it offers scalability, security, and innovation. However, managing an AWS environment at […]
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the OCRE 2024 Framework, a significant initiative designed to transform the procurement of public cloud services for research and education institutions across the UK and Europe. Starting from 3rd February 2025, this new framework offers a comprehensive suite of cloud solutions tailored to the evolving needs of […]
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OCRE Cloud Framework update
An update on the status of the OCRE 2024 tender process and considerations around existing and future call-off contracts under the current framework. GÉANT has advised that the evaluation of the large number of bids received for the forthcoming OCRE 2024 framework and is progressing well and on-schedule for the announcement of the outcomes this […]
GÉANT has announced the OCRE 2024 Tender for European R&E cloud services procurement, now live in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU). This third iteration is poised to bring a host of advantages to Research and Education (R&E) institutions across Europe, with Jisc among the 42 buyers across 39 countries. The OCRE 2024 […]
The OCRE cloud framework has been a successful initiative to provide cloud services to the research and education sector. GÉANT, in collaboration with NRENs including Jisc, is preparing the procurement for the next iteration of the framework, aiming to address the changing needs and challenges of the sector. GÉANT has published a Prior Information Notice […]