UCAS boosts admission process using cloud computing
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UCAS has implemented a public cloud infrastructure to enhance its admissions process in preparation for the 2013 A-Level results, which are anticipated to generate over 2.5 million applications and peak website traffic. This cloud solution allows for scalability to handle high demand and then reduce costs during off-peak times. The transition to cloud computing is expected to benefit the higher education sector in the long term.
UCAS boosts admission process using cloud computing
- 1. UCAS Boosts Admission Process Using Cloud Computing Facebook.com/storetec Storetec Services Limited @StoretecHull www.storetec.net The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) adopted cloud computing prior to the release of this year's A Level results in a bid to boost the higher education applications process, it has been revealed. Ten days before the publication date of August 15th 2013, the body launched a public cloud infrastructure so that its IT infrastructure could be scaled up to meet the demands of students.
- 2. Every year, UCAS processes more than 2.5 million university and college applications and its website has to handle up to 180 logins per second when the A Level results come out and their recipients begin to react to them. Consequently, a fast, efficient and expandable computer system is vital if UCAS is to avoid having to deal with multiple crashes. However, it is also important to scale this back down when the sudden peak in demand subsides, as UCAS may not attract many hits at all for the rest of the year and it is therefore impractical to spend vast sums of money on a lot of hardware.
- 3. This is why the public cloud was deemed a suitable choice for the organisation. Chief operating officer at UCAS Steve Jeffree said: "The admissions process can be extremely stressful for students. Their futures depend on this move into higher education so we take our responsibility as the facilitator of this process very seriously. It is for this reason that, in 2013, we chose to move the core of the UCAS confirmation and clearing process to the cloud. The higher education sector will benefit from the move to cloud computing for many years to come."
- 4. UCAS revealed last week that there had been a decrease on the proportion of A Levels being awarded top grades, the second fall in two years. Some 26.3 per cent were given A or A*s, down from 26.6 per cent in 2012, although the overall pass rate increased to 98.1 per cent. Storetec News/Blogs."http://www.storetec.net/news-blog/ucas- boosts-admission-process-using-cloud-computing/" UCAS Boosts Admission Process Using Cloud Computing. Aug 19, 2012. Storetec.