Set up cloud hosting for Engage or Engage Accounts

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction
• Getting started
• Hosting Engage or Engage Accounts on cloud
  • Application server and web server 
  • Desktop client
  • Other considerations
• Setting up and configuring your managed cloud service
• Installing Engage or Engage Accounts on your managed cloud service
• Data migration
• What does Tes do once my managed cloud service is set up, configured and ongoing?
• Further recommendations
• Final thoughts

Introduction

Gain enhanced security, scalability and cost effectiveness when you host Engage or Engage Accounts on your managed cloud service.

This document provides recommendations for choosing a cloud hosting provider and setting up based on your school's requirements with your IT department's assistance.

Getting started

To get started, you'll need to select a managed cloud service that meets your requirement for server, operating system, virtual machine, monitoring, networking, database and web server (where required). 

We recommend AWS or Azure as our products are tested on their platforms. They have built their cloud servers with security as priority and have response teams dedicated to monitoring, identifying risks and preventing breaches.  

To understand your school's particular requirements; you'll need to consider the following based on the number of students:

• computing type; number of cores, CPU (vCPU) and RAM
• data storage; what types and amounts 
• SQL server
• any additional software
• what other applications will Synergetic need to interact with
• security needs; including access controls, firewalls, encryption and disaster recovery
• how your cloud server needs to be configured

Hosting Engage or Engage Accounts on cloud

See our recommendations for computing, data storage, SQL server, additional software and configuration notes for Engage or Engage Accounts.

These recommendations are intended as a guide only and you'll need to consider your school's plans for future growth.

Other considerations

• For all SQL servers, appropriate SQL licenses. Consult with your licensing provider.
• Add appropriate SSL certificates for Microsoft

Setting up and configuring your managed cloud service

Once you’ve decided on a cloud host and signed up to their service, setting up a cloud server involves creating and configuring a virtual server in a cloud computing environment, selecting a suitable server instance, configuring the operating system, and setting up networking and security.

If you need help in setting this up, you’ll need to contact your school’s IT provider.

Installing Engage or Engage Accounts on your managed cloud service

You’ll need to provide connection details to Tes to connect and install Engage or Engage Accounts on your cloud server.  We'll never ask for access to the account.

We'll need details like IP address, username and password so we can connect into the server.

Rest assured, we'll provide suggestions for securely sending details.

You’ll also need to:

1. install ScreenConnect to each of the Windows servers allowing us access when you need support. We’ll provide the software and you’ll need to run it on your server. We recommend you set it to Manual service and enable it each time you require support.
2. provide SQL client access licences – required for each of the services accessing the SQL server.
3. provide Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) licences for remote Engage application access. 

Data migration

We offer a data migration service whether you’re onboarding as new customer or moving from on-premise to cloud server. Subject to a Professional Service fee.

What does Tes do once my managed cloud service is set up, configured and ongoing?

It’s important to understand what responsibilities Tes has in relation to installing, maintaining or updating our products on your cloud server. The good news is that where we are not responsible for an item, your provider will be able to help you once you’re set up and configured.

The table provides a break down of who is responsible for various items when cloud hosting.

*We don’t maintain Engage or Engage Accounts on your cloud server. However, we can offer this as a Professional Service for a fee.

Further recommendations

Depending on your set up, we recommend you consider the following:

• Ensure any other software held by the school are appropriately licensed and your server can handle their requirements.
• Look to optimise hosting with your provider i.e.; spinning down EC2 boxes between 12am-6am when people are least likely to be accessing their services.

Final thoughts

If you're unsure or would like further information, please contact Tes Support Team to discuss your requirements before you get started with your managed cloud service.