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Migration tool
Start Fresh on CloudLabs
New to VM Labs or want a clean slate? Use our guided setup wizard to select your cloud, pick from 100+ lab templates, and spin up your first lab in under 15 minutes — no infrastructure expertise required.
Listed in Microsoft's Azure Lab Services retirement guide
Azure Lab Services retires June 28, 2027Seamlessly Transition from Azure Lab Services to CloudLabs VM Labs
Provide users access to preconfigured virtual machines customized to your needs. Host classroom training, professional training, hackathons, or hands-on labs at any scale. Using our fully managed services, you need to define your ideal lab experience for users, and we'll manage the rest from deployment to lab infrastructure management. We cover every aspect!
Up to $2,000 in Azure credits for qualified ALS migrations.
Microsoft-Recommended Partner Solution Complete Feature Parity with ALS
CloudLabs Redefining Success
Trusted by leading institutions worldwide!
- Microsoft
- MIT
- Seneca Polytechnic
- Queens University
- Columbia University
- Deakin University
- University of Florida
- University of Calgary
- University of Washington
- Northeastern University
- BCIT
- Sault College
- Toronto Metropolitan University
- UMass Boston
- University of Waterloo
- Carnegie University
- Austin Community College
- Willis College
- Bellevue University
- Syracuse University
- ECPI University
- Simplilearn
- Trainocate
- Udacity
RETIRING JUNE 28, 2027 · NEW SIGN-UPS CLOSED
Azure Lab Services Retires Soon! Start Planning Early to Avoid Last-Minute Disruption
Get up to $2,000 in Azure credits. Evaluate CloudLabs VM Labs under guided support before committing to a full plan.
Explore CloudLabs VM Labs with your team
01
Test the platform with real learners
Host controlled lab sessions, run live pilot tests, and collect direct actionable feedback.
02
Get end-to-end managed support
Lab setup, configuration management, automation scripting, and priority issue resolution included.
03
Explore clear migration timelines
Our experts will analyze your present lab setup and share detailed transition timelines.
04
Run LMS compatibility checks
Verify integration between CloudLabs VM Labs and your existing learning ecosystem.
See CloudLabs VM Labs in Action
Platform capabilities
Everything You Need to Run World-Class Labs
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Customized Labs
Launch Windows and Linux lab environments in minutes, configured to meet your specific training, testing, or enablement requirements.
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Powered by Microsoft Azure
Deploy lab VMs in the Azure region of your choice, leveraging Microsoft Azure's global infrastructure, scalability, and performance to deliver a seamless user experience.
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Advanced Cost Optimization
Monitor and control lab consumption with usage limits, scheduled operating hours, and automated shutdowns for idle virtual machines to optimize cloud spending.
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Automation
Streamline lab operations with features such as lab cloning, REST APIs, and upcoming PowerShell support to reduce manual effort and improve efficiency.
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Shadow VM
Enable instructors and administrators to connect directly to learner environments through Shadow VM for real-time guidance, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
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LMS Integration
Integrate CloudLabs seamlessly with learning management systems such as Moodle and Canvas using LTI 1.1 and 1.3 for a connected learning experience.
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Dedicated & Shared VMs
Support different learning models by providing dedicated virtual machines for individual users or shared multi-session environments for collaborative access.
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Inbuilt Lab Manual
Deliver step-by-step lab instructions directly within the virtual environment, helping users navigate exercises with clarity and confidence.
Azure Lab Services vs CloudLabs VM Labs
Compare Azure Lab Services and CloudLabs VM Labs across critical features that impact scalability, flexibility, and operational efficiency.
Recommended for training teams
Azure Lab Services
Retiring June 2027
CloudLabs VM Labs
The next-generation alternative
Lab creation time
Up to 20 min
Instant
Lab publishing required
Publish required Admins must publish labs before users can access them, a process that can take up to 1 hour.
Instant No publishing step. Labs are live immediately upon creation.
Lab type
Limited Persistent only.
Flexible Persistent and non-persistent labs.
VMs per lab
1 only
Up to 5 Each with unique configurations.
VM SKU flexibility
Restricted Curated list only.
Customizable Custom vCPU, RAM, GPU, and disk.
User identity
Limited Azure AD / Microsoft accounts only.
Any identity Azure AD, Google, LinkedIn, and more.
Instructor monitoring
Not supported
VM Shadow Real-time session overview.
Lab lifecycle tracking
Not supported
Full control Filter by Active, Expired, or Deleted.
Cost reporting
Basic Azure Billing only.
Detailed Power BI reports per user and lab.
2 / 9 supported
9 / 9 supported
Estimated Example Pricing Options
Choose between Bring Your Own Azure Subscription or a fully-managed CloudLabs subscription.
| Instance size | Bring Your Own Bring Your Own Subscription | CloudLabs Managed CloudLabs Managed Subscription | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azure / hr | Platform fee | Azure / hr | Platform fee | |
| Small 2 core(s), 4 GB RAM, 128GB SSD | $0.181 | $12 per user / month | $0.181 | $6 per user / month |
| Medium/Standard Medium 4 vCPUs, 8 GB RAM, 256GB SSD | $0.357 | $0.357 | ||
| Large/Standard Large 8 vCPUs, 16 GB RAM, 256GB Standard SSD | $0.682 | $0.682 | ||
| Medium - Nested virtualization 4 vCPUs, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD | $0.433 | $0.433 | ||
| Large - Nested virtualization 8 vCPUs, 32 GB RAM, 256GB Premium SSD | $0.809 | $0.809 | ||
| Small GPU - Compute 6 vCPUs, 56 GB RAM, 256GB SSD | $1.151 | $1.151 | ||
| Small GPU - Visualization 8 vCPUs, 28 GB RAM, 256GB SSD | $0.865 | $0.865 | ||
| Alternative Small GPU - Visualization 6 vCPUs, 55 GB RAM, 256GB SSD | $0.761 | $0.761 | ||
| Medium GPU - Visualization 12 vCPUs, 112 GB RAM, 256GB SSD | $1.723 | $1.723 | ||
| Medium GPU - Accelerated Visualization 6 vCPUs, 55 GB RAM, 256GB SSD | $0.761 | $0.761 | ||
| Large GPU - Accelerated Visualization 12 vCPUs, 110 GB RAM, 256GB SSD | $1.491 | $1.491 | ||
*With CloudLabs, you can create custom VM SKUs with different VM size and disk configuration combinations as per your lab requirement and optimize Cloud cost for your needs. Above Example pricing uses the same lab SKUs as used by Azure Lab Services.
Example pricing scenario
- ✓ Duration: 30 days
- ✓ Instance: Small 2 core(s), 4 GB RAM, 128GB SSD
- ✓ VM quota per student: 2 hours per day per student
- ✓ Azure cost per hour: $0.181
| Cost Breakdown | Bring your own | Managed |
|---|---|---|
| Azure cost (PAYG) | $454.80 | $454.80 |
| Platform fees | $240.00 | $120.00 |
| Total cost | $694.80 | $574.80 |
Use cases
How Leading Teams Use CloudLabs VM Labs?
From academic classrooms to enterprise sandboxes — one platform built for every hands-on learning scenario.
Book a Demo
Academic Labs & Classroom Learning
Set up virtual lab environments for courses, assignments, and semester-long programs. Give every student access to the tools and resources they need to complete their courses.
Instructor-Led Training & Certification Programs
Prepare virtual machines with the required software and content for workshops, bootcamps, and certification training. Give learners a consistent environment from day one.
Hackathons & Technical Events
Run hands-on events with virtual machines that scale to support hundreds of participants. Provide attendees with immediate access to the environments they need.
Product Demos & Customer Trials
Share invitation-only lab environments with prospects and customers. Let users explore your product through guided, hands-on experiences before deployment.
Partner Enablement Programs
Provide partners with dedicated environments for training, solution validation, and technical readiness. Help them build confidence through practical experience.
Sandbox Environments & Proof of Concepts
Provision Windows or Linux virtual machines for experimentation, testing, and proof-of-concept projects. Explore new ideas without affecting production systems.
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10+
Years of industry expertise
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5M+
Labs provisioned worldwide
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1M+
Participants upskilled
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50K+
Events supported
CloudLabs VM Labs transition paths
Start fresh with a new lab program or migrate from your existing Azure Lab Services setup. Both paths are fully supported.
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Get started
Create your CloudLabs account and get started.
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Create VM images
Use the CloudLabs portal to create and test your VM images.
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Set up labs
Configure your labs with new resources and settings.
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Go live
Deploy your newly created labs, ready for immediate use and distribution.
CloudLabs VM Labs Transition Paths
Start fresh Migrate existing labs
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Get started
Create your CloudLabs account to start your migration journey.
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Migrate VM images
Use the CloudLabs migration script to migrate or replicate your VM images.
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Migrate labs
Migrate labs from your existing Lab Account and Lab Plan using the migration tool.
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Go live
Migrated labs are ready for deployment and distribution.
From the blog
Plan Your Migration from Azure Lab Services with CloudLabs VM Labs
As Azure Lab Services approaches retirement, explore migration guides, best practices, cost optimization strategies, and expert insights to help you transition and scale hands-on labs with confidence.
Published Sep 17, 2024
Step-by-Step Guide Transition from Azure Lab Services to CloudLabs VM Labs
Amit Malik7 min
Published Nov 17, 2025
Azure Lab Services Is Retiring : What It Means for You?
Harshal Charde10 min
Published Mar 6, 2026
Migrate From Azure Lab Services Without Breaking Student Experience
Amit Malik5 min
Published Aug 23, 2024
Best Alternatives to Microsoft Azure Lab Services in 2026
Amit Malik11 min
Delivering Measurable Impact
See how organizations across industries use CloudLabs to accelerate adoption, deliver hands-on learning, enable customers and employees, and achieve measurable business outcomes.
Why Organizations Choose CloudLabs
Discover how CloudLabs helps organizations streamline lab operations, reduce manual effort, and deliver impactful hands-on experiences at scale.
Your subscription
Migrate from Azure Lab Services
Already on Azure Lab Services? Our automated migration tool imports your existing labs, VM images, and rosters in one run — no rebuilding from scratch. Claim your $2,000 Azure-credit pilot and let a dedicated migration engineer guide you through go-live.
Discover CloudLabs VM Labs on Azure Marketplace
Purchase CloudLabs solutions directly through Azure Marketplace and manage billing through your Azure subscription. Simplify procurement, streamline payments, and take advantage of the security and flexibility of the Microsoft ecosystem.
Support tier options
Enhance your support experience by selecting from a range of customizable tier options tailored to your business requirements.
Standard support is available to all customers at no additional cost.
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Standard Edition
Included for all customers
- Contact methods
- Initial response time
- 4 hours
- Availability
- 24 / 7
- Popular
Premium Edition
Standard Edition Support+
- Contact methods
- Email, Live Chat
- Initial response time
- 15 minutes
- Availability
- 24 / 7
- Enterprise
Enterprise Edition
Premium Edition Support+
- Contact methods
- Custom contact
- Initial response time
- Custom SLAs
- Availability
- 24 / 7
24×7 Globally
Global Support Options
Select your preferred data-residency region with CloudLabs, ensuring compliance and control over the location of your VMs. Access support and localization services available in a variety of languages, for a truly inclusive and seamless global experience.
English Español Français Deutsch Italiano 日本語 한국어
North America
US and Canada delivery hubs
EMEA
Europe, Middle East and Africa coverage
APAC
Asia-Pacific and Australia delivery
FAQ's
VM Labs FAQ
VM Labs free trial
Start your free trial
Set up CloudLabs VM Labs and run your first labs before Azure Lab Services retires.
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Access enabled within 24 hours
Your trial is set up for you: create up to 5 labs with 3 deployments per lab.
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Up to $2,000 in Azure credits
Available for qualified Azure Lab Services migrations.
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Migration tooling and expert guidance
Move your lab plans, lab accounts, and VM images with help from our team.
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LMS compatibility checks
Verify integration between CloudLabs VM Labs and your existing learning ecosystem.
Request your trial
Submit the form, and we will get back to you soon.