RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – IBM is shutting down its “Cloud for Education” product and will end support for it on Nov. 30, according to an announcement from Big Blue.
The service is “deprecated and will be withdrawn from service and support,” IBM said. “Clients should arrange to migrate their data and workloads before that date.”
Cloud services have grown increasingly important to IBM since it acquired Raleigh-based Red Hat in 2019 for $34 billion in order to target cloud opportunities.
The move comes a week after Red Hat announced a deal with communications giant Nokia to take over its cloud business and add 350 Nokia employees.
Red Hat to add 350 employees in cloud deal with Nokia, sees ‘wide range of new customers’
Why the shutdown? IBM didn’t really say other than noting it reviews products for “customer requirements and service offering consumption.” The tech giant also noted that alternatives are readily available:
“IBM continues to evaluate its service offerings periodically keeping in perspective our customer requirements and service offering consumption. Since the launch of Cloud for Education, new catalog services such as VPC, Code Engine, and third party services from Dizzion and Citrix can now provide the capabilities required by the academic community, superseding the capabilities of the Cloud for Education service,” the company said.
The service launched in 2021 as the world still grappled with COVID.
“As educational institutions transition to remote learning due to the changing nature of education or the pandemic, it is essential to make computing lab resources accessible off-campus,” IBM said at the time, reported tech news site The Register.
Which services are included in this change?
All IBM Cloud for Education Applications Lab plans are included in this deprecation, including:
- Applications Lab Base Flex Hourly Plan
- Applications Lab Base Flex Plan
- Applications Lab Base Plan
- Applications Lab Premium Plan
- Applications Lab SPSS Plan
- Virtual Course Credit Subscription Plan
Why are we making this change?
IBM continues to evaluate its service offerings periodically keeping in perspective our customer requirements and service offering consumption. Since the launch of Cloud for Education, new catalog services such as VPC, Code Engine, and third party services from Dizzion and Citrix can now provide the capabilities required by the academic community, superseding the capabilities of the Cloud for Education service.
Deprecation schedule
IBM Cloud for Education is withdrawn from marketing effective immediately. The service is deprecated in the IBM Cloud catalog, and no new orders or renewals are possible.
Customers with existing deployments will still be able to use them through November 30th, 2023, or the expiry of their IBM Cloud order, whichever is first.
What if I’m still working with the service?
IBM representatives are reaching out to help customers plan for this change and decide on the best cause of action. If you are a current IBM Cloud for Education customer and have not heard from IBM, please reach out to your account representative or contact IBM Cloud Support.
Have questions?
If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please reach out to you IBM Cloud representative or IBM Cloud Support.
