What is NCEdCloud?
NCEdCloud serves as North Carolina’s official single sign-on platform and identity management system for the state’s K-12 public education system. This complete cloud-based infrastructure connects over 1.5 million students, educators, and administrators to essential educational applications and resources. The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) developed NCEdCloud to support the state’s K-12 education system.
NCEdCloud provides reliable server infrastructure that makes migration easier from local systems to cloud-hosted services. Users can access multiple educational applications with a single set of credentials. These applications include student information systems, learning management systems, and digital content providers. This simple approach eliminates the need for multiple logins.
The main goal of NCEdCloud is to build a world-class IT infrastructure for North Carolina’s education system. The platform aims to:
- Ensure equal access to computing and storage resources
- Scale efficiently based on total K-12 usage needs
- Keep high availability, reliability, and performance
- Support emerging instructional and data systems with common infrastructure
- Provide predictable operational costs
This reliable technology infrastructure supports informed decision-making and makes access to online instructional resources easier. The platform helps district technical teams focus on supporting users and instruction rather than maintaining infrastructure.
NCEdCloud includes identity and access management (IAM) services that secure access across the state’s educational ecosystem. MCNC, a technology organization serving North Carolina’s research and education communities, worked with the Department of Public Instruction to develop the system. Mark Scheible, the Identity and Access Management Solutions Architect at MCNC, played a key role in its development.
The platform stands out through its innovative approach to identity federation in education. North Carolina led the way by creating the world’s first SAML-based Identity Federation for K-20 institutions. This achievement came through strategic collaborations between MCNC, the Department of Public Instruction, and local education agencies (LEAs) like Rockingham and Davie County Schools.
NCEdCloud is more than just technical infrastructure. The platform ended up benefiting the entire educational community by redirecting resources toward educational priorities instead of maintaining separate technology systems. This smart investment “buys down long-term IT costs” and provides sustainable funding for new instructional and leadership programs.
The platform serves students, teachers, administrators, and parents who access role-specific resources through my.ncedcloud.org. Parents can monitor their child’s educational progress and participate in school communications through a dedicated portal.
Why was NCEdCloud created?
The NCEdCloud initiative began in 2010 after North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) set aside money from a GBP 317.66 million grant to build a statewide digital infrastructure. This investment came at a vital time when North Carolina’s schools faced major tech hurdles that held back teaching and learning.
Before NCEdCloud, North Carolina’s schools didn’t work well with disconnected digital systems. Students had to manage 4 to 6 different accounts, while teachers and staff juggled 8 to 18 different login credentials for their educational apps. These scattered systems made it hard to bring technology into classrooms.
The uneven tech setup across school districts created gaps in learning opportunities. NCDPI imagined a single platform that would give everyone equal access to digital resources across the state’s schools.
NCEdCloud was built to meet these vital needs:
- To give equal access to computing and storage resources in all districts whatever their size or location
- To help scale quickly based on the total North Carolina K-12 usage needs
- To deliver reliable and high-performing educational technology
- To build a shared infrastructure that supports new teaching and data systems
- To keep technology costs predictable and sustainable
NCEdCloud tackled more than just technical issues. Schools faced legal and compliance problems when student or staff accounts stayed active after they left. The manual work of creating and managing user accounts became too much for Local Education Agencies (LEAs), which slowed down cloud adoption.
NCDPI knew that bringing all cloud resources under one platform meant standardizing how more than 250 organizations handled user access and identity, including all public schools and charter schools.
The platform fits well with North Carolina’s broader tech goals. It supports the state’s Digital Learning Initiative by providing the foundation for resources and training outlined in North Carolina’s Digital Learning Plan. This plan sets research-backed goals to create the best PK-12 learning environments.
The creation of NCEdCloud ended up as a smart investment to “buy down long-term IT costs,” which freed up resources for teaching and leadership programs. Schools can now focus less on maintaining systems and more on supporting users. This shift lets teachers spend their time teaching instead of dealing with technology.
How does NCEdCloud work?
NCEdCloud runs on a reliable infrastructure powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS). The system handles millions of user identities throughout North Carolina’s educational system. Beyond core authentication services, NCEdCloud also supports access to various academic and performance-related digital resources. Students frequently use tools such as a CGPA To GPA Converter Tool to evaluate their academic performance when applying for colleges or scholarship programs. By integrating access to such online academic utilities, NCEdCloud ensures students can securely manage both their educational applications and performance tracking tools from a centralized platform. The platform manages over two million active accounts statewide and processes more than one million authentications daily. This cloud-based system connects users to educational resources through three main components.
Centralized identity system
NCEdCloud’s foundation lies in its centralized data repository that stores all user identity information in one place. The central directory acts as the primary authentication and authorization resource. Identity data flows in from over 250 school districts through hundreds of files in different formats. The system unites, standardizes, and stores this data in a ‘person registry’ database. The data goes through cleansing, de-duplication, and validation before moving into a central Active Directory instance on EC2. This all-encompassing approach opens up possibilities to improve reporting capabilities, generate data analytics, and manage access control effectively.
Single Sign-On (SSO) functionality
The platform provides three authentication methods, with SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) being the preferred choice. SAML implementation gives users a true Single Sign-On experience – they authenticate once to access multiple applications without entering credentials again. Users who access a SAML-enabled application are directed to the NCEdCloud IAM login page for authentication via the IAM Service. They can then access all other SAML-enabled applications without additional logins. Native authentication (synchronized credentials) and LDAP integration serve as alternative methods, providing a Reduced Sign-On experience with consistent credentials.
Federated access and IAM integration
The federation component makes shared integration possible between the identity system and educational applications of all types. Identity Automation’s Federated Identity Management System (FIMS) redirects users to a branded login page (My.NCEdCloud) where SAML identity provider verifies their credentials. The system supports two methods for automated lifecycle management to provision and de-provision accounts. NCEdCloud IAM currently operates in three availability zones on the East Coast with a minimum of three instances running for each component service. The system automatically deploys additional instances as utilization reaches specific thresholds. This flexible architecture proves vital during peak usage, especially on weekday mornings when students and teachers log in simultaneously across the state.
Key features of NCEdCloud
NCEdCloud’s platform comes with several essential features that make identity and access management better across North Carolina’s educational system. The service runs on Identity Automation infrastructure hosted on Amazon’s AWS and provides reliable capabilities to manage educational resources securely statewide.
User account management
NCEdCloud makes administrative tasks easier with centralized user account management. Administrators can create, update, and deactivate user accounts from one accessible interface. This approach makes user provisioning and deprovisioning more efficient and gives users better access management. The platform lets end users manage their own credentials, while LEA/Charter administrators have delegation options.
NCEdCloud IAM service handles about two million active accounts, and it has managed nearly three million identities since it started. The year 2018 saw 208,786 new accounts created and 20,714,205 identity updates. These numbers show how well the system works for North Carolina’s entire K-12 public education ecosystem.
Role-based access control
Role-based access control (RBAC) is a core security feature in NCEdCloud. Users get specific permissions based on their roles such as student, teacher, administrator, or IT support. The system only gives users access to applications that match their role after they log in.
This detailed permissions system protects against unauthorized access and optimizes authorization processes. To cite an instance, teachers can access student information and reset passwords, while students have limited access. The system also allows employees without teaching job codes to request special roles like “My Students for Non-teachers” if they work with students.
Integration with cloud services
NCEdCloud creates smooth integration with various educational applications through federated identity management. SAML is the preferred protocol among several authentication methods. This setup lets third-party applications like Discovery Education pull staff and student accounts straight from NCEdCloud.
The integration framework helps LEAs implement cloud services faster and more efficiently. The platform has all the infrastructure and processes ready to aid this connectivity, which removes technical barriers when adopting educational technology.
Support for multiple user types
The platform works well for different user types with custom interfaces and features. Students access their applications, see their profile information, and change passwords. Teachers can view their students’ information and reset student passwords. LEA Administrators get more options including account management, guest account creation, and approval of privileged role requests.
Young students in grades PK-5 can use QR code badges or pictographs to log in more easily. Older students in grade 6 and above can set up their accounts on their own using their pupil number, grade, birthday, and PSU code. This approach ensures everyone gets the right access methods based on what they need and their age level.
How to access and use NCEdCloud
NCEdCloud Identity and Access Management (IAM) service has specific steps for different user types and login status. The platform offers simple methods to set up accounts and access educational resources.
ncedcloud login process
Users can quickly access NCEdCloud by typing my.ncedcloud.org in their browser window. The login screen asks users to enter their Username (State UID number) and click “Go.” They must enter their password on the next screen. Users should bookmark the Applications page with application icons rather than the login screen. This step will redirect them correctly after authentication.
LEA Administrators and Help Desk staff need Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) with a One Time Password (OTP) when they log in. The Single Sign-On feature lets users access all integrated applications immediately after authentication.
ncedcloud claim my account steps
New users must follow these steps to claim their account:
- Go to my.ncedcloud.org and click “Claim My Account”
- Choose the right claim policy (LEA Employee or LEA Student)
- Fill out the form with required details:
- Staff must provide their 10-digit State Employee UID and LEA code
- Secondary students (grades 6-12) need their pupil number, grade, birthdate in YYYYMMDD format, and LEA code
- Check the “I’m not a robot” box
- Set up a password that meets system requirements
- Pick and answer at least five security questions
Teachers give usernames and passwords directly to primary students (grades PK-5).
Using the ncedcloud parent portal
Parents and guardians can track student progress through the NCEdCloud parent portal’s PowerSchool integration. The portal shows live updates of grades, assignments, and attendance as teachers update their electronic gradebooks.
A navigation panel helps users find different sections of the portal. The Email Notification option lets parents set up alerts by choosing the information they want and how often they want it. The Account Preferences section allows users to update their name, email, language settings, username, and password.
Future of NCEdCloud and IAM in education
NCEdCloud system continues to grow through planned upgrades and technical advances. The platform now handles approximately two million active accounts, and has managed nearly three million identities throughout its lifetime. NCEdCloud team has scheduled a backend system upgrade on July 2nd, 2024. The upgrade will start at 11:00 a.m. and services should resume by 7:00 p.m. that evening. This update will boost the NCEdCloud IAM Service’s reliability, scalability, and security.
The platform’s future goes beyond technical improvements. Its roadmap features AI-driven security that will alert users about unusual logins or suspicious activities. The system will also integrate deeper with Learning Management System (LMS) to create tailored dashboards based on course enrollment.
New access tools will help parents and guardians support their children’s learning journey. Guardian accounts have become crucial to the platform’s continued growth.
NCEdCloud’s operations are changing from broad to precise controls while adding support for multi-valued attributes. The team is developing new authentication options and methods as they refine external data processing. School districts will soon get custom reporting tools to track usage and educational equity.
The cost to maintain and improve NCEdCloud stays at approximately $0.80 per student per year. This budget supports daily operations, maintenance, and targeted application improvements.
NCEdCloud serves as a measure of success in American K-12 education. It shows how centralized identity systems can improve access, educational equity, and security. User feedback and district technology leaders’ input drive continuous breakthroughs. This approach helps NCEdCloud remain North Carolina’s digital gateway to education.
FAQs
1. What is NCEdCloud and why was it created?
NCEdCloud is North Carolina’s centralized single sign-on platform for K-12 public education. It was created to streamline access to educational resources, improve technology integration, and address the challenges of managing multiple accounts across various educational applications.
2. How do I access NCEdCloud?
To access NCEdCloud, simply enter my.ncedcloud.org into your browser. On the login screen, enter your Username (State UID number) and click “Go,” followed by your password. For optimal use, bookmark the Applications page rather than the login screen.
3. What are the key features of NCEdCloud?
NCEdCloud offers centralized user account management, role-based access control, integration with various cloud services, and support for multiple user types including students, teachers, and administrators. It also provides single sign-on functionality for seamless access to educational applications.
4. How do new users set up their NCEdCloud account?
New users can claim their account by clicking “Claim My Account” on the my.ncedcloud.org page. They’ll need to select the appropriate claim policy, provide required information (such as State Employee UID for staff or pupil number for students), create a password, and answer security questions.
5. What does the future hold for NCEdCloud?
NCEdCloud is continuously evolving with planned upgrades to improve reliability, scalability, and security. Future developments include AI-driven security capabilities, deeper Learning Management System integration, expanded parent access tools, and more granular controls. It’s also becoming a benchmark model for centralized identity systems in K-12 education across the United States.