Introduction

Cloudforce, a Maryland-based leader in cloud and AI technology, has officially launched nebulaONE®, a cutting-edge platform designed to revolutionize higher education through the power of artificial intelligence (AI). Built exclusively on Microsoft Azure, nebulaONE® offers a secure, private, and scalable AI gateway tailored for academic institutions.

Background

The integration of AI in higher education has been a growing trend, with institutions seeking to enhance learning experiences, streamline administrative tasks, and foster research innovation. However, challenges such as data privacy, compliance with regulations like FERPA and GDPR, and the complexity of deploying AI solutions have hindered widespread adoption. Recognizing these challenges, Cloudforce developed nebulaONE® to provide a seamless and secure AI integration solution for universities and colleges.

Key Features of nebulaONE®

  • Flexible AI Model Integration: Institutions can choose from a variety of leading AI models, including those from OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta, Mistral, and DeepSeek, allowing for customized AI experiences that meet unique campus needs.
  • Cost-Effective Deployment: nebulaONE® operates on a pay-as-you-go model, enabling institutions to implement strict usage limits per user and pay only for the actual consumption of cloud resources, avoiding traditional per-user licensing fees.
  • Enhanced Data Security and Compliance: By deploying both the platform and AI models privately behind an institution's firewalls, nebulaONE® ensures that institutional data remains secure and compliant with privacy laws such as FERPA, GDPR, and HIPAA.
  • User-Friendly Interface: The platform includes an intuitive, multimodal chat interface for AI interactions and provides the ability to develop low-code, task-specific AI agents, facilitating innovation and efficiency across campus departments.

Case Study: UCLA Anderson School of Management

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Anderson School of Management serves as a prime example of nebulaONE®'s impact. Facing concerns with using public AI platforms due to security and privacy issues, UCLA Anderson sought a solution that could deliver a secure, private experience while enabling their priority use cases. They chose to adopt nebulaONE® because it is a fully managed platform that deploys in their Azure environment, ensuring data privacy and compliance.

In just two months, UCLA Anderson launched its first generative AI chatbot to support MBA students with their capstone projects. With expert training from Cloudforce, the school quickly expanded its AI capabilities, developing additional AI-powered experiences for students and faculty. This initiative has earned UCLA Anderson a reputation as a leader in AI within higher education.

Broader Implications and Impact

The successful deployment of nebulaONE® at UCLA Anderson has set a precedent for other institutions. Cloudforce is also collaborating with the London Business School, California State University, Fullerton, and the University of Maryland, among others, to bring secure, scalable AI to campuses across the country. By providing a platform that addresses common barriers to AI adoption—such as data security, compliance, and cost—nebulaONE® is poised to accelerate AI innovation across the higher education sector.

Technical Details

nebulaONE® is built exclusively on Microsoft Azure, leveraging Azure's built-in security and privacy features. The platform supports a wide array of leading AI models, allowing institutions to select the best fit for their use cases. Its architecture ensures that data remains within the institution's Azure environment, providing control over student records and research data. Additionally, nebulaONE® includes role-based access controls, encryption at rest and in transit, and supports Azure Policy and Azure Blueprints to help institutions maintain compliance with various regulations.

Conclusion

The launch of nebulaONE® by Cloudforce marks a significant advancement in the integration of AI within higher education. By addressing key challenges such as data security, compliance, and cost, nebulaONE® provides institutions with a powerful tool to enhance learning experiences, streamline administrative tasks, and drive research innovation. As more universities and colleges adopt this platform, the landscape of higher education is set to transform, embracing the full potential of artificial intelligence.