How education organisations can lead the way in cloud technology

During the summer, we hosted the Microsoft Cloud Bootcamp for Education series. Across three online sessions, we provided IT leaders in educational institutions with a roadmap to harness the power of Microsoft Cloud technology.

The sessions explored the full Azure journey – from migration, to modernisation, and then to innovation – to demonstrate to IT leaders how Microsoft cloud technology not only improves IT infrastructure, but also opens the door to supporting strategic goals in education organisations, whether that’s improving operational efficiencies or enabling data-driven decision-making and implementing AI.

We’re not locking this series away though – that’s the last thing we want to do. Here’s a quick rundown of the three sessions with key takeaways and insights.

Session one: Laying the Groundwork with Cloud Migration

Presented by our very own Azure Practice Lead Richard Cheney, the opening session took attendees through the first three steps of our Roadmap to AI, starting with migrating to Azure. It can be a daunting project but, as Richard noted, it’s an essential first step for educators.

“We’re seeing the cost of running systems on-premises rising, and with that, education organisations are looking to the cloud to innovate without incurring heavy infrastructure costs”.

We hear from Richard as he stresses the importance of a structured migration to the cloud and how it sets up a foundation for modern digital transformation. One of the first steps is to make sure that you assess your readiness and make sure that your cloud goals align with the expectations and needs of your educational institution. This alignment helps to ensure that you are migrating to the cloud for the right reasons.

Richard went on to highlight three core benefits of Azure migration:

• Cost optimisation: An Azure environment can reduce the need for on-premises hardware costs, helping institutions free up costs and resources for more strategic needs. The Azure platform’s cost management tools, according to Richard, offer “a way to right-size, scale up or down, and really control costs effectively.”
• Hybrid flexibility: Many education organisations opt for a hybrid model. This approach allows them to integrate new cloud-based solutions while maintaining some on-premises systems. “Hybrid models let you use tools like Azure Arc to extend management and security both across on-premises and cloud environments,” Richard explained.
• Enhanced Security and Compliance: Education organisations have unique compliance needs, from managing student information to following strict data governance rules. Azure integration gives security leaders access to the entire Microsoft Cloud Security toolkit, like Endpoint and Sentinel, which can help simplify data protection across all platforms. Richard emphasises this benefit, saying “it’s a holistic approach where compliance and security can be managed centrally, no matter where your data is.”

Altogether, this foundational session helped IT leaders understand the strategic value of cloud migration beyond just the tech – it’s about creating an environment that will support an education institution’s evolving needs and goals.

Session two: Modernising Applications and Data for Greater Efficiency

The second session took the conversation further by discussing the next two steps of the Roadmap to AI, application and data modernisation. These steps are where education organisations can start to truly transform their IT infrastructure to be more flexible, more scalable, and best prepared for future growth. As our presenter, Cloud Evangelist Leon Godwin, put it:

“Modernisation isn’t just about the technology – it’s about setting up a system where people, processes, and tech all work together to support your institution’s mission.”

Leon continued by explaining that innovation can’t happen without modernisation, which involves focusing on updating infrastructure and applications to leverage the full capabilities of Azure. Leon’s session included methods to enhance legacy applications, making them cloud-ready while preserving their value.

• Application Modernisation: Moving from traditional on-premises applications to cloud-based platforms makes IT systems more adaptable and responsive. Leon says that “when you can move your applications into a platform-as-a-service model, you reduce the need to manage infrastructure, so your team can focus on delivering value rather than maintaining servers.”
• Streamlined Data Management: Data management in the cloud is essential for institutions looking to derive actionable insights. This session provided a deeper dive into how centralising data on the cloud can enable better governance, faster retrieval, and simplified analytics. “If you want to gain insights and eventually adopt AI, you first need to organise and modernise your data,” Leon said.
• Microsoft Funding and Support: We also used this session to talk to attendees about the funding programs Microsoft offers that can help educational organisations offset the cost of any application or data modernisation projects. You can access more information on this in our free Microsoft Funding Guide.

With set modernisation strategies, educational institutions can gain more control over their technology investments, build a data framework that is secure and centralised, and set themselves up to take advantage of innovative data and AI technologies.

Session three: Driving Innovation with Data and AI

In the first and final sessions of the series, we were joined by Microsoft MVP Victoria Holt. This was a great session that piqued a lot of interest from attendees as we explored the role of data and AI in shaping the future of education. For many institutions, data is an untapped resource – but unlocking its value requires integrating, cleaning, and governing data across multiple systems.

“We’re at a place where data is the foundation for a lot of innovation, and for educational institutions, that means thinking about data not just in terms of storage, but as a strategic asset.”

Key highlights from this session included:

• Data Integration and Quality: Integration across multiple systems is a common challenge in education. That leads to poor data quality, which in turn holds back decision-making. Joined by Megha Jolly, a data and AI specialist from Microsoft, the team point out that “a lot of the education organisations we deal with have a mishmash of applications that don’t talk to each other, which can be a nightmare for data quality.” Institutions must focus on creating a cohesive data infrastructure that integrates various applications to improve data accuracy and usability.
• Analytics and Insights: Data analytics provides organisations with actionable insights that can enhance student outcomes and operational efficiency. From basic reporting to predictive models, having a sound data infrastructure allows institutions to look forward, not just backwards. Victoria said that “educational establishments are starting to think about predictive analytics to identify at-risk students or optimise staff resources,” adding “it’s about using your data to become more proactive.”
• AI Strategy and Tools: The session closed with a look into AI’s potential in education. By starting with a well-integrated, high quality data environment, institutions can start leveraging AI to automate tasks, provide personalised learning experiences, and support decision-making. Leon Godwin stated that “AI is a powerful tool, but without a solid cloud and data foundation, it’s like building a house on sand. Get those two right, and AI success will follow.”

The message was clear throughout the third session, that educational organisations building a robust data management framework and adopting cloud analytics are best positioned to leverage AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and AzureAI Studio, which can assist in everything from summarising reports to creating your own chatbots.

Building a Cloud-Driven Future in Education

The boot camp series provided IT leaders within education organisations with a comprehensive guide to transitioning to cloud technology and establishing a modern, data-driven infrastructure. From Azure migration and data modernisation to the potential of AI, the sessions reinforced that digital transformation in education isn’t just about tech upgrades – it’s about creating a resilient and responsive IT foundation that can adapt to future needs.

“Modernisation is a journey,” said Leon. “It’s not about ticking boxes; it’s about continuously evolving to meet the needs of your organisation.” And for educational institutions, this journey promises more agile, insightful, and student-focused outcomes. By leveraging the tools, insights, and strategies from this boot camp, IT leaders can drive meaningful change in their organisations, making education more effective, data-driven, and future-ready.

What’s next?

If you would like to learn more, you can view all three session recordings here.

Whatever stage you are at on your journey, you don’t have to do it alone. Cloud Direct has unrivalled expertise and knowledge that can help assess your current environment, identify your target state, and put you on the right track.

We have a range of 1:1 workshops and assessments that can help you realise the art of the possible for your education organisation. Take a look at them here and register your interest in a personalised session with one of our experts.

As a leading Microsoft Solutions Partner and Azure Expert MSP, we can get you exclusive access to Microsoft funding to help you on your cloud, data and security journeys. Contact jessica.primrose@clouddirect.net to find out more about how we can help your education organisation. We’d love to hear from you!