CloudLabs to Showcase VM Labs Platform at EDUCAUSE 2026

Microsoft recommended alternative to Azure Lab Services, CloudLabs VM Labs enables higher education institutions to offer scalable hands-on learning environment

REDMOND, WA, UNITED STATES, September 29, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- CloudLabs by Spektra Systems will showcase its VM Labs platform at the EDUCAUSE Annual Conference 2026, taking place September 29–October 2 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver. At Booth #2015, CloudLabs will focus on helping higher education institutions prepare for Microsoft's June 28, 2027, retirement of Azure Lab Services and transition to a modern virtual lab environment without disrupting teaching and learning.

Microsoft's Azure Lab Services retirement guide lists CloudLabs by Spektra Systems among its recommended partner solutions for organizations transitioning from Azure Lab Services. Microsoft has advised existing customers to begin planning their transition ahead of the June 2027 retirement date.

𝐀𝐳𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐛 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 28, 2027

With the retirement deadline approaching, institutions need to account for lab environments, course requirements, student access, faculty workflows, infrastructure, and cloud costs as part of their transition plans.

Over the past year, more than 47,000 students across 85+ institutions have migrated from Azure Lab Services to CloudLabs VM Labs.

At EDUCAUSE, CloudLabs specialists will meet with institutions to discuss migration requirements, demonstrate VM Labs, and help teams develop a transition plan aligned with their academic calendars and operational needs.

𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫

Moving away from Azure Lab Services does not have to mean rebuilding an institution's virtual lab environment from the ground up.

CloudLabs VM Labs is designed to support the transition of existing virtual lab environments while providing institutions with additional capabilities for managing, monitoring, and delivering hands-on learning at scale.

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞:

● Windows and Linux lab environments -Build and deploy customized virtual machines based on course and curriculum requirements.
● Browser-based access - Students can access their lab environments directly through a web browser without additional client software.
● Shadow VM - Faculty and administrators can connect to learner environments for real-time monitoring, guidance, and troubleshooting.
● Integrated lab guides - Deliver step-by-step instructions directly within the lab environment.
● LMS integration - Connect lab experiences with supported learning management systems using LTI 1.1 and 1.3.
● Automated cost controls - Set usage limits, schedule operating hours, and automatically shut down idle virtual machines to help control cloud spending.
● Dedicated and shared VMs - Support different instructional and cost models, from individual student environments to shared multi-session labs.

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞

Institutions that begin their migration early can evaluate their requirements, pilot new environments, validate faculty and student workflows, and phase the transition around their academic calendar rather than waiting until the retirement deadline approaches.

To help institutions get started, CloudLabs is offering $0 migration fees and a waived first year of platform fees to eligible institutions that commit to migrating by October 31, 2026.

EDUCAUSE attendees can also request a guided evaluation or proof of concept to experience CloudLabs VM Labs before making a broader migration decision.

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐬

CloudLabs will also showcase CloudLabs Cosmos, its AI-powered lab builder, at EDUCAUSE 2026.

Cosmos enables educators and technical teams to describe a desired hands-on learning scenario using natural language and accelerate the creation of lab environments, guides, and validation workflows.

The goal is to make it easier for institutions to create and adapt hands-on learning experiences as curriculum and technology requirements evolve.

𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐚 𝐌𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦

Beyond Azure Lab Services migration, CloudLabs provides a broader hands-on learning platform for higher education institutions, supporting virtual labs, cloud environments, guided learning, and technical training.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀:

● 1,000+ ready-to-deploy labs across cloud, AI, cybersecurity, data, programming, and other technology domains.
● Comprehensive monitoring and reporting to provide visibility into lab usage, learner activity, and cloud consumption.
● Browser-based access across devices without local software dependencies.
● Real-time instructor support through Shadow VM.
● Custom lab environments and learning paths designed around specific courses, programs, and institutional requirements.
● Multi-cloud capabilities across Azure, AWS, GCP, and other supported environments.

CloudLabs currently supports institutions, enterprises, training providers, and technology organizations delivering hands-on learning experiences at scale.

𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐀𝐔𝐒𝐄 2026
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐡 #2015
𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫
𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐨
𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 29–𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 2, 2026

𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗔𝗨𝗦𝗘 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗵 #𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟱 𝘁𝗼:

● Discuss their Azure Lab Services migration requirements with CloudLabs specialists.
● Build a migration plan around their institution's academic calendar.
● See CloudLabs VM Labs in action through a live demonstration.
● Explore hands-on labs across multiple technology domains.
● Learn about CloudLabs Cosmos and AI-assisted lab creation.

Amit Malik
Spektra Systems LLC
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