What Is the Cloud?

The cloud is someone else’s computer. Cloud providers allow users to purchase on-demand access to their infrastructure and services. Commonly available cloud resources include computing, storage, databases, networking, and AI/ML services. Cloud computing differs from traditional, on-premises infrastructure in a few key ways:

• On-demand self-service: Provision compute, storage, and other resources within minutes, without submitting a request to a provider or waiting for hardware to be installed

• Pay as you go: Pay only for the resources you use instead of purchasing a server that may sit idle

• Managed hardware: The cloud provider takes on the burden of managing and maintaining the hardware in their data centers

• Scalability: Scale resources up or down to match your workload, from a single small virtual machine to thousands of processors running in parallel

• Managed services: Use fully managed databases, AI and machine learning platforms, and other tools without configuring and maintaining the underlying infrastructure yourself

Is Cloud Right for Your Project?

Northwestern-provided compute and storage services, such as Quest and the Research Data Storage Service, are generally more cost-effective than using cloud services. Researchers typically consider cloud when these services do not meet the needs of their project. See the following research scenarios of when to use cloud.

Scenario	Use cloud	Don’t use cloud
Northwestern IT services fully meet your computing and storage needs		X
Your project requires resources such as specialized GPUs or managed AI services not available through Northwestern systems	X
Northwestern-provided storage options are not cost-effective at your project’s scale	X
Compliance requirements specify that your data cannot be stored in the cloud		X
Your data has security or compliance requirements that cannot be met on Northwestern systems*	X
Your workflows are “bursty” (you use a large amount of resources for a short period of time infrequently)	X
You need to align with your collaborators’ cloud workflows	X
Your project requires predictable yearly costs		X

If you are unsure whether cloud is the right fit, or your data has security or compliance requirements, request a Research Cloud Consult . RCDS will help you weigh the options, discuss the proper configuration to meet your requirements, and connect you with the appropriate team.

Working With Sensitive or Regulated Data?

Researchers are responsible for ensuring their data complies with institutional and regulatory requirements. If you are unsure whether cloud is the right option for your data, request a Research Data Management Consult before setting up an account.

Use a Northwestern Cloud Account

Cloud computing used for Northwestern research must go through a Northwestern-affiliated cloud account, unless the project involves only public data, as defined by the Northwestern Data Classification Policy . See Requesting an Account to get started.

Next Steps

Continue to Choosing a Platform for a comparison of AWS, Azure, and GCP to help you decide which platform fits your project.