Why UCS as your infrastructure service
We set up your secure virtual environment – You manage it
Unmanaged Cloud Services (UCS) gives California government organizations a secure, on-premises self‑managed Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) option built and hosted by the California Department of Technology (CDT). You get a powerful virtual environment aligned to State approved security standards running on VMware, where your team creates its own virtual machines (VMs) and controls the operating system, software, and configurations – without owning or maintaining any physical hardware.
UCS provides a flexible, cost effective way to scale your technology, modernize applications, and focus on your organization’s goals, all with trusted support from CDT.
When you choose UCS, you benefit from:
- No CCSA required – faster onboarding
- UCS is part of California Cloud Services (CCS), so it is already aligned with State IT security and policy requirements. So you skip the California Cloud Services Assessment (CCSA) process and can start building solutions sooner.
- Secure state data center
- Your virtual machines run in CDT's secure data centers, with predictable rates, a single point of contact, and support from teams who understand state policies and compliance needs.
- You control servers and software
- You install, configure, and update the operating system and software you need, while CDT manages the underlying servers, storage, and network infrastructure. This allows customization and management tailored to your specific needs.
- Secure by design
- The virtual environment is designed to align with State-approved security standards, ensuring your data and applications are protected.
- Optional protection for peace of mind
- Add backup, restore, and integrated disaster recovery (iDR) services to safeguard data and support continuity during unexpected events.
Benefits at a glance
Even with UCS as a self-managed service, CDT’s environment is designed to provide the flexibility, security, and control you need to easily manage your cloud resources and support your business goals.
Help when you need it
CDT’s Help Desk Support available 24x7x365.
Get started fast
Rapidly set up new servers and resources to keep your projects moving.
Stay online
High availability ensures your applications and services remain accessible
No capital expenditures
Enjoy hosting without the need to own or maintain physical hardware.
Connect securely
Use VPN devices for safe site-to-site connections across multiple locations.
Easy to manage
Use a user-friendly online portal to create, resize, and manage your virtual servers.
Custom fit
Choose from a variety of virtual machine sizes to suit your needs.
Flexibility in choice
Select from multiple operating systems and versions for your virtual machines.
When should I use UCS?
Unsure how UCS could help your team? Here are just a few ways UCS can be used.
Legacy or Specialized Applications
Run applications that require specific OS versions or architectures that don’t fit PaaS or CAMC.
Custom & Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Configure VMs with secure VPN and custom routing to connect to on‑prem or cross‑agency systems.
Dev or Training Environments
Create temporary environments for staff training, demos, or proof‑of‑concept work.
Lab, Testing, & Rapid Prototyping
Spin up isolated environments for development, experimenting, and QA.
What’s included
Discover all the ways UCS can support your organization – explore the full set of included features below.
Core infrastructure: Provision & manage with confidence
CDT’s keeps your environment reliable, private, and easy to manage.
- Secure, high-performance servers, storage, and network managed by CDT
- Isolated environment to protect your data and applications
- Self-serve portal for easy virtual machine management
Operating System: Choose the best fit
The operating system (OS) is the foundation of your virtual machine, influencing how your applications run and how resources are managed. Choosing the right OS is important for compatibility, stability, and security.
Virtual Machines: Sizing made simple
Quickly match your VM1 size to your needs – saving money on smaller workloads or boosting performance for larger ones.
- Adjust resources anytime
- Pay only for what you use
- Modify standard sizes2 as needs change
- Add storage, memory, backup, and disaster recovery through the portal.
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1Standard x86_64 virtual machines.
2110 GB storage is for the operating system, future Service Packs, and add-ons.
Optional features
Virtual Private Network (VPN)
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is essential for securely and privately connecting your organization’s remote locations to your UCS environment.
Key benefits
Flexible Expansion
2 tunnels to start, option to add more
Remote & Exclusive Access
Connect securely anywhere with dedicated VPN
Secure Data Exchange
Safely share info across agencies
Resource Management
Access cloud tools privately
Rapid Provisioning
Create VPN connections & expand secure access
Backup and Restore
UCS safeguards your data with automated backups and fast file or full‑system restores, helping minimize downtime and keep your operations running smoothly.
Features
Daily Backup
Automatic and scheduled to safeguard your data every day
14-Day Retention
Easy access to recent copies, kept securely for two weeks
Quick Restore
Recover individual files or restore complete system images with ease
Integrated Disaster Recovery (iDR)
UCS provides disaster recovery features to help recover quickly from disruptions and keep your business running, with clear recovery targets so you can plan with confidence.
Disaster Recovery Metric
Fast Recovery
Recovery Time Objective (RTO)
Systems operational within 4 hours
Data Protection
Recovery Point Objective (RPO)
Recover up to the last 24 hours
Roles & responsibilities
CDT manages the underlying infrastructure; you manage what runs on top. You have full control to manage your VMs – customize settings, keep systems secure, and install the software you need. This flexibility lets you quickly adapt your cloud environment to match your business, save time, and protect your data.
| Area | CDT Responsibilities | Customer Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| Data center, power, cooling | Manage CDT facilities and physical environment | n/a |
| Servers, storage, network | Maintain hardware, storage arrays, and networking | Basic networking and VMs |
| Hypervisor & IaaS platform | Operate virtualization layer and UCS portal | Use the portal to create, resize, and delete VMs |
| Operating system | n/a | Manage, configure, and patch the OS |
| Security | Manage firewall outside VM | Antivirus, manage firewall inside VM, OS hardening |
| Applications | n/a | Install, configure, monitor, and support applications |
| Day to day VM management | n/a | Manage security; OS configuration; rebooting, powering up/down; manage applications |
| Backup/DR (if subscribed) | Provide backup/DR infrastructure and services | Request and validate restores; ensure recovery meets business requirements |
Rates
| Service Description | Service Identifier | Product Name | Unit of Measurement | Rate | Service Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCS VM Includes 2 CPU 4GB RAM | Unmanaged Cloud Services | Virtual Machine (VM) | $988.00 | L601 | ||
| Additional CPU | Unmanaged Cloud Services | CPU | $188.00 | L602 | ||
| Additional RAM | Unmanaged Cloud Services | GB | $60.00 | L603 | ||
| Basic Disaster Recovery Data Storage | Disaster Recovery | Monthly/Per Gb | $0.61 | R309 | ||
| Primary Data Storage | Open Systems Storage | Monthly/Per Gb | $1.45 | S208 | ||
| Open Systems Storage Data Backups | Open Systems Storage | Monthly/Per Gb | $0.38 | S216 |
Request service
Starting your UCS journey is a collaborative process – CDT is here to help guide you forward. When you’re ready to enroll or change your UCS service, your CDT Account Lead can schedule a brief discovery session with our experts, if needed.
For your convenience, the California Cloud Services Comparison Matrix is available for your review.
New UCS enrollment
| Step | What you do | How / Where |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Start discovery session | Contact your CDT Account Lead to schedule a collaborative conversation with a CDT expert about your goals, constraints, and priorities to identify the right path forward. |
| 2 | Submit request | Submit an Unmanaged Cloud Services (UCS) Case/Request in the CDT IT Service Portal. Refer to the Unmanaged Cloud Services (UCS) Tenant Onboarding Guide. |
| 3 | Complete portal onboarding and start using UCS | After approval, complete UCS portal training; CDT creates your accounts based on your responses within the Case/Request so you can begin provisioning VMs in the self-serve portal. |
Changes to an existing UCS environment
| Request type | How to submit | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Standard VM and resource changes | Use the UCS self serve portal |
|
| Changes not available in the portal | Submit an Unmanaged Cloud Services (UCS) Case/Request in the CDT IT Service Portal. |
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FAQs
1. Where can I get more information about UCS?
Contact your Account Lead.
2. Can cities, counties, educational and tribal entities use the services?
Yes, other government entities can use UCS.
3. Will UCS provide application monitoring?
No, you must provide your own application monitoring. As an unmanaged service, the customer manages the OS, security and applications.
4. Can I bring my own monitoring tools?
Yes.
5. What are the data retention periods for UCS?
Backups are retained for a 14-day rolling period. Archive data is retained through the life of the VM to which the storage is attached.
6. Will UCS have database reporting and monitoring tools?
No. Database installation, management, reporting, and monitoring will be your (the customer) responsibility.
7. How do I gain access to the UCS Portal?
If you’re interested in subscribing to UCS, submit a Case/Request to gain access to the UCS self-serve portal. After access to the portal has been granted, you can provision resources without submitting a Case/Request each time new VMs are provisioned.
8. Can I use any server names I want in UCS?
You (the customer) can use your own server names inside the OS. Outside the OS (the self-serve portal), a name will be automatically assigned but a host alias field to enter your own server’s name is available.
9. How will the billing work?
You will be billed in one-month increments based on the resources provisioned during that timeframe.
10. Who is responsible for server software installation?
You (the customer) are responsible for any applications installed on provisioned VMs.
11. Can I get access to the hypervisor or hardware?
No, this is controlled by CDT.
12. What is the cost to initiate an environment with no VMs?
There is no cost.
13. My project has ended, should I decommission the environment?
- Option 1: You can fully decommission your environment by submitting an Unmanaged Cloud Services (UCS) Case/Request in the CDT IT Service Portal.
- Option 2: You can remove the VMs and keep your UCS environment in place at no cost, so it stays ready for future use without repeating the initial onboarding and setup process.