IMPORTANT
ITS manages and supports applications with enterprise-wide scope that are vital to the operation of the university. Examples of these include the university’s Microsoft 365 environment, Salesforce instance, and Banner ERP system. New applications that meet these criteria are onboarded through projects or programs initiated and approved by the domain council process. If you have a new system or application with enterprise-wide scope, please submit a Technical Business Solution request to start that process. If instead you are looking to stand up and manage a new server or application for a smaller scope such as a School, Center, Academic or Business unit, this is for you.
ITS offers virtual server hosting in Microsoft Azure. Azure provides a secure operating environment dedicated to system availability and uptime. Virtual server hosting services are available to approved activities in individual schools, centers, departments, and other academic, research, or business units that require a secure and stable computing environment.
Microsoft Azure services are available 24/7/365 and offer an uptime service level agreement of 99.99%. Microsoft Azure operates from purpose-built, access-restricted data centers and can be configured to securely host even the most sensitive systems and data. Microsoft Azure is directly connected to George Mason’s network through their ExpressRoute Direct service offering low-latency data transfers between the university and hosted systems and lightning-fast application response.
Key Features
Hosting Environment
- Microsoft Azure operates from purpose-built, access-restricted data centers with on-site security staff providing access control around the clock and throughout the year.
- Environmental monitoring and controls in each datacenter maintain a temperature and humidity-controlled operating environment.
- UPS and generator systems provide continuous backup power in the event of utility failure.
- Multiple carriers in each facility provide Internet connections to ensure always-on network availability.
- Multiple data centers (availability zones) within a region provide local resiliency and services can be configured across multiple regions to ensure even higher availability,
What’s Available?
- Academic, research, and administrative units can instantiate virtual servers in Microsoft Azure.
- Both Linux and Windows virtual servers are available.
- This service primarily targets hosting a department’s specialist applications, but other use cases are possible.
How Do I Get This Service?
- Virtual servers are requested through Microsoft Azure Virtual Server Service Request in TDX.
- Requesters place orders for one or more instances of specific types of virtual servers.
- Requests for virtual servers can be time-bound in 1-month increments or open ended.
- Requesters must provide billing and authorization information including organization ID and fund code, approver, and rollup approver (generally chief business officer).
- Requested virtual machines are instantiated after approval by all billing contacts and authorization to operate is granted by the chief business officer of the academic unit or administrative department.
Policy
All users of the George Mason University network must adhere to the following university policies:
Additional Information
Costs
Azure is a pay as you go service. Costs are incurred for any and all resources instantiated in the environment. While guardrails are in place to avoid runaway processes and other surprises, Azure users are responsible for any costs incurred by their use. ITS cautions all users to be mindful of this when operating in Azure and to pay close attention to their activity and billing. Chief business officers and org/fund approvers will have access to the Azure portal for activity and financial review.