Case Study: Boston University achieves rapid, cost-effective LMS disaster recovery with VMware vCloud Air Disaster Recovery

Boston University Integrates Public Cloud For Faster Delivery and Disaster Recovery

Boston University's Questrom School of Business, which serves about 2,000 students, depends on a Sakai-based learning management system to deliver both on-campus and new online-only courses. Faced with limited physical space, strict security and privacy requirements, a small 13-person IT team, and a university Cloud First mandate, Questrom needed a cost‑effective, non‑disruptive disaster recovery solution that would not require architectural changes to its existing VMware vSphere environment.

Questrom implemented VMware vCloud Air Disaster Recovery to protect eight critical VMs (including Sakai, its Oracle back end, and the web server) and VMware Horizon Air for cloud-hosted desktops, using the same vSphere management tools. The deployment delivered a 30-minute RTO and a one-hour RPO, reduced CapEx/OpEx versus on‑premises DR, simplified administration, uninterrupted access to learning resources, and flexible virtual lab access for students.

Boston University

Ken Gottleib

Senior Technology Architect