IBM has announced the discontinuation of its Cloud for Education platform, just two years after its launch. The service, which aimed to provide accessible lab resources for online learning, will be fully withdrawn from service and support by November 2023. IBM cited the introduction of competing services like VPC and Code Engine, as well as third-party offerings from companies such as Dizzion and Citrix, as contributing factors to its decision. The closure of the Education Cloud platform is seen as part of IBM’s broader cost-cutting efforts and follows previous layoffs and plans to automate back-office tasks using AI.
IBM has revealed its decision to shut down the Cloud for Education platform, which was launched with the intention of providing accessible lab resources for online learning. After just two years in operation, the service will be fully discontinued and no longer supported starting in November 2023.
The company attributed its decision to the availability of alternative services like VPC and Code Engine, as well as third-party offerings from companies including Dizzion and Citrix. It appears that the demand for educational cloud computing did not meet initial expectations, with the platform failing to gain significant traction during the pandemic.
Customers utilizing the IBM Cloud for Education platform have until November 30 or until their current licenses expire to find suitable alternatives. IBM representatives are reportedly reaching out to assist customers in planning for this transition and determining the best course of action.
The discontinuation affects all IBM Cloud for Education Applications Lab offerings, including Applications Lab Base, Flex Hourly Plan, Applications Lab Base Flex Plan, Applications Lab Base Plan, Applications Lab Premium Plan, Applications Lab SPSS Plan, and Virtual Course Credit Subscription Plan.
IBM’s Cloud for Education platform closure follows its challenges in achieving the same level of success as its major competitors in the cloud market, namely AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. Despite various efforts, such as acquisitions of companies like SoftLayer and Red Hat, IBM has struggled to gain significant market share.
The decision to close this less successful branch of IBM’s operations is speculated to be part of a broader cost-cutting strategy, which has already led to the termination of numerous IBM projects. Earlier this year, the company announced the elimination of nearly 4,000 jobs, and it later suggested that AI could replace approximately one-third of its back-office workforce within the next five years.
IBM is discontinuing its Cloud for Education platform after two years of operation. The decision to shut down the service is due to the emergence of competing offerings and the lack of significant adoption in the educational cloud computing market. Customers of the platform have been advised to explore alternative solutions before November 30 or the expiration of their current licenses. The closure of the Education Cloud platform aligns with IBM’s broader cost-cutting measures, which include previous layoffs and plans to automate tasks using AI technology.
