Public cloud resources for research

• Overview
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Google Cloud
• Microsoft Azure

Overview

IU has contracts with the three main public cloud platforms, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. They offer hyper-scale computing resources on demand. While those services are not free beyond limited trial usage, each vendor provides support for research in the form of credits and, in some cases, free consulting. The information here outlines what is available to IU faculty, how to take advantage of it through IU-sanctioned environments, and the kind of support available to help you choose what works best for your use case.

Each vendor has a slightly different process and guidelines for applying for research credits. The links below point to vendor documentation. If you have additional questions, submit the Cloud Support form.

Research credits are time-limited and can generally be requested only once per project. To ensure that you have the best opportunity to use your award before it expires, pay special attention to questions about when you will start your work when completing your application.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

AWS is a generous supporter of academic research and the advancement of science. This support takes the form of data sets, tools, consultation, and credits to pay for the use of the AWS computing platform.

• Research and Technical Computing Portal: The Research and Technical Computing Portal is a gateway to information about research computing on AWS. Find case studies, request letters of support, and learn about AWS collaborations with NSF, NIH, NASA, and others.
• Public Datasets: The AWS Public Dataset Program offers support for preparing and publicly hosting high-value datasets.
  • Visit the registry of currently hosted datasets at the Registry of Open Data on AWS.
  • Earth on AWS is a program for working with geospatial workloads and applications.
• Cloud Credits for Research:
  • AWS Machine Learning Research Awards provides both cash and credit awards to support eligible programs and researchers in this rapidly emerging computing field.
  • AWS Cloud Credits for Research supports researchers doing and sharing their work in a variety of areas.
• Research Consulting: This dedicated team of scientific experts focuses on scientific computing and research workloads. To get connected, submit the Cloud Support form.
• Research-focused training: To help researchers learn about cloud computing, Amazon has curated a list of no-cost, on-demand online courses tailored to researchers.

Google Cloud

Google Cloud is generous in its support of research and teaching. The IU Google Cloud environment has safeguards in place to protect research workloads. For fast-track assistance with account setup, submit the Cloud Support form.

• Datasets: Google Cloud Public Datasets are available to query directly, to use for developing machine learning models, for application development, or other uses.
  • For an overview, see Google Cloud Public Datasets.
  • For Public Dataset program details, see Google Cloud Public Datasets.
• Cloud Credits for Research: Google Cloud research grants start at $5,000, and higher grant amounts are possible with written justification. See Break through with research credits.
• Research Consulting: To get connected to technical subject matter experts on Google Cloud to help with needs gathering, best practices, solutions architecture, and skill building, submit the Cloud Support form.

Microsoft Azure

Microsoft's Azure cloud platform has a deep and flexible platform suitable for use in a wide variety of research use cases; see Microsoft Azure for research.

• Datasets: Microsoft has a number of public datasets for a variety of uses, including the two below, and others are available through web searches.
  • Azure Open Datasets
  • Public data sets for testing and prototyping
• Cloud Credits for Research: For details about Azure research credits, submit the Cloud Support form. Staff will put you in touch with the appropriate Microsoft representative.
• Research Consulting: To be connected to an Azure solutions architect or research associate, depending on your use case and area of research, submit the Cloud Support form.