Service

OCRE cloud framework

An EU-compliant procurement framework for cloud infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS) and associated software as a service (SaaS).

Contact your account manager to get started

For enquiries contact:

About the OCRE cloud framework

When you need access to cloud services – such as infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS) and complementary software as a service (SaaS) – you want a simple, compliant solution that gets you up and running quickly and cost-effectively.

Procuring from a cloud provider on your own can be complex and time-consuming. By purchasing services via the OCRE cloud framework you get predictable, safe and cost-effective access to a portfolio of cloud providers across Europe – so you can find the EU-compliant solution you need.

The framework is based on the previous GÉANT IaaS framework with an expanded scope, established by the OCRE (Open Clouds for Research Environments) project consortium led by GÉANT, to help accelerate cloud service adoption in the education and research community.

Services available via the framework

The services available through the framework include but are not limited to the following:

Artificial intelligence
Blockchain
Compute
Containers
Databases
Developer tools
Internet of Things
Migration and transfer
Networking and content delivery
Quantum Technologies
Security, identity and compliance
Serverless
Storage
Virtual reality and augmented reality

Each supplier provides their own cloud management portal, giving you a centralised view of your accounts and helping you understand how cloud services are used across your organisation. They also provide dashboards showing you full details of metering, billing, analytics and reporting.

How to access the services

To simplify the purchasing process, OCRE has designated one supplier for each respective cloud platform per country. You can purchase the Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, IBM Cloud, Microsoft Azure and Oracle Cloud services through their respective resellers (see table below), as well as from a variety of original infrastructure providers (OIPs).

Platform	Supplier
100 Percent IT cloud platform	100 Percent IT
Amazon Web Services	Jisc
Blue Safespring cloud platform	Blue Safespring
Cleura cloud platform	Cleura
CloudFerro cloud platform	CloudFerro
CloudSigma cloud platform	CloudSigma
Exoscale	VSHN
Google Cloud Platform	Sparkle
IBM Cloud	SoftwareONE
Ionos	Bechtle
Microsoft Azure	Phoenix
Open Telekom Cloud	T-Systems
Oracle Cloud	Quistor Enterprises
Orange cloud platform	Orange
OVHcloud Public Cloud	OVHcloud
Proact cloud platform	Proact
Setcor cloud platform	Setcor

Watch our supplier workshop webinars to find out more about each platform

We invited our cloud providers to a series of workshops featuring presentations and question and answer sessions.

Why procure via the framework?

By accessing services via the OCRE cloud framework, you can:

Save time and money

The framework helps you make resources go further:

Quickly find compliant suppliers, saving resources compared to the time and money you’d spend procuring a service in-house
Cost-effective pricing - purchasing power is increased because demand is aggregated across Europe
Network traffic costs are limited, with egress charges either discounted or free

Get peace of mind

OCRE conducts due diligence on contracts, providing peace of mind in terms of compliance and, where possible, better legal conditions than you are likely to find by approaching suppliers independently. A standard, negotiated call-off agreement applies to all suppliers on the framework

You can also be assured that data handling and storage will meet European and national regulations.

Make the most of our world-class Janet Network

Suppliers and services on the framework are connected to the Janet Network, either directly or via GÉANT, so you make the most of the high-capacity, low-latency Janet Network.

Benefit from the simplicity of single sign-on

If you're a member of the UK Access Management Federation, your users can use their home organisation login to access the portals of some of the cloud providers on the framework – using eduGAIN, which interconnects identity federations around the world.

Like the UK Access Management Federation, eduGAIN uses the de facto standard protocol, SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language).

Eligibility

Higher education institutions, further education colleges and Research Council establishments in the UK are eligible to use the framework. Services are also available to other organisations, such as local authorities and other bodies who are members of higher and further education purchasing consortia.

Start using the framework

To find out more about the OCRE cloud framework, contact your account manager and view the buyers' guide (pdf).

You can also read a list of frequently asked questions (pdf) regarding the framework, contracts, and adoption funding.

In addition, the OCRE Cloud Catalogue provides details of the suppliers available in each country under the framework.

Service level description

Service description

The OCRE cloud framework is an easy, safe, cost-effective, predictable and EU compliant solution which gives you access to a portfolio of IaaS cloud providers across Europe.

Charges

Jisc applies a 3.5% administration fee for using the framework.

Your responsibilities

Selection of supplier: by using the framework, you can make a direct award to any participating supplier. Alternatively, you can run a mini-competition if something other than standard services is required.

Hours of service

The enquiry service is available during the business day. The business day is defined as Monday to Friday. It excludes 24-31 December and all English public holidays.

Request for service

Telephone 0300 300 2212 or via email to cloudframework@jisc.ac.uk

Service delivery time

An initial response to an enquiry sent to Jisc will be given within 24 hours. Your reseller will be able to advise on delivery times for services and products requested.

Terms and conditions

Organisations wishing to use the OCRE cloud framework will need to sign an access agreement form before Jisc can supply the cloud provider’s contact details and price list.

Escalation

If you have issues that you wish to escalate, please see the complaints and escalation page for details.

Please refer to Jisc's behaviours for an overview of our roles under the OCRE cloud framework

Jisc's OCRE roles and behaviours

Jisc’s mission is to power and empower our members with the technology and data they need to succeed. To achieve this mission we want to afford choice and value to our members, ensuring support for members’ access to the highest quality services and technology providers.

Jisc is the operator of the OCRE cloud framework for the UK. As such we have an important role to ensure that eligible users of the framework can be reassured and have absolute confidence in the impartiality and quality of the advice and guidance that they receive from Jisc.

Jisc’s role encompasses supporting services to members that include those that are sold and delivered directly by Jisc; sold and delivered through direct partnerships with suppliers; and also those services that are sold independently of Jisc but delivered by the nominated partners of technology platforms, available frameworks and other means.

At Jisc we are absolutely committed to ensuring that members have unbiased, impartial and fair access to all of these services not favouring one over the other. That there are no barriers to members obtaining the best possible support from suppliers and their partners accessible via frameworks or other routes.

With respect to the OCRE cloud framework these are the behaviours you can expect to see from Jisc:

Promote the cloud platforms that are available through OCRE on a fair basis
Advise members impartially about the available cloud platforms and suppliers on the framework, taking into account their stated preferences and requirements
Be transparent about why a particular piece of advice has been given
Involve the cloud platform providers and resellers in conversations with members where this has been requested by the member or where the platform providers and reseller are able to answer a member question more directly
Operate in a way so that where appropriate and practical there is separation of relevant system access, people and communications to ensure that framework and supplier activities remain independent and do not permit for application in a way that could be construed as gaining an unfair advantage
Use our in-house capability and credibility to reciprocally reinforce the value of the framework and help grow understanding of the benefits of public cloud platforms with members
Provide advice and consultancy to members that is couched in terms of their requirements that is nonbiased with respect to ensuring the best possible outcome for the member
Privileged and/or commercially sensitive information that is shared with respect to the framework consumption and other commercial information or with respect to suppliers will be with be handled with confidence and discretion and only shared with other parties at the mutual agreement of the respective owners of that data. Jisc will use privileged information only with respect to the context that the information has been provided