--- title: "Cloudlabs VM Lab | Azure Lab Service Alternative" description: "Explore CloudLabs VM Labs, a powerful Azure Lab Services alternative for seamless virtual lab experiences. Scalable, secure, and cost-effective solutions." url: "https://cloudlabs.ai/cloudlabs-vm-labs" source: "https://cloudlabs.ai/cloudlabs-vm-labs" note: "Markdown rendering of the page above, maintained for AI agents. Regenerate with `npm run llms:md`." --- Listed in Microsoft's Azure Lab Services retirement guide Azure Lab Services retires June 28, 2027 Plan your migration # Seamlessly 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! Start your free trial [Book a demo](https://cloudlabs.ai/demo?audience=edu) Up to $2,000 in Azure credits for qualified ALS migrations. Microsoft-Recommended Partner Solution Complete Feature Parity with ALS ![CloudLabs VM Labs admin dashboard](/_astro/HeroSol2.BDQc7XXs_ZdMLx2.webp) Our Valued Clients ## CloudLabs Redefining Success Trusted by leading institutions worldwide! 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. Claim your Azure credits ## 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 CloudLabs VM Labs See it in action Platform capabilities ## Everything You Need to Run World-Class Labs - ### Customized Labs Launch Windows and Linux lab environments in minutes, configured to meet your specific training, testing, or enablement requirements. - ### 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. - ### 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. - ### Automation Streamline lab operations with features such as lab cloning, REST APIs, and upcoming PowerShell support to reduce manual effort and improve efficiency. - ### Shadow VM Enable instructors and administrators to connect directly to learner environments through Shadow VM for real-time guidance, monitoring, and troubleshooting. - ### 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. - ### Dedicated & Shared VMs Support different learning models by providing dedicated virtual machines for individual users or shared multi-session environments for collaborative access. - ### 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 | Feature | 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. | Feature score 2 / 9 supported 9 / 9 supported [Learn more](https://cloudlabs.ai/azure-lab-services-alternative) ## Estimated Example Pricing Options Choose between Bring Your Own Azure Subscription or a fully-managed CloudLabs subscription. | Instance size | Bring Your Own Subscription | | 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 [Get custom pricing](https://cloudlabs.ai/demo?audience=edu) | 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](https://cloudlabs.ai/demo) ![Students and instructors collaborating in a virtual lab environment](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1522071820081-009f0129c71c?w=900&h=650&fit=crop&q=80) ### 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. - 10+ Years of industry expertise - 5M+ Labs provisioned worldwide - 1M+ Participants upskilled - 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. 1. ### Get started Create your CloudLabs account and get started. 2. ### Create VM images Use the CloudLabs portal to create and test your VM images. 3. ### Set up labs Configure your labs with new resources and settings. 4. ### Go live Deploy your newly created labs, ready for immediate use and distribution. CloudLabs VM Labs Transition Paths Start fresh Migrate existing labs 1. ### Get started Create your CloudLabs account to start your migration journey. 2. ### Migrate VM images Use the CloudLabs migration script to migrate or replicate your VM images. 3. ### Migrate labs Migrate labs from your existing Lab Account and Lab Plan using the migration tool. 4. ### 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. - [![Step-by-Step Guide Transition from Azure Lab Services to CloudLabs VM Labs](/images/blog/comprehensive-guide-migrating-from-azure-lab-services-to-cloudlabs-vm-labs/step-by-step-blog-featured-image.webp) Published Sep 17, 2024 ### Step-by-Step Guide Transition from Azure Lab Services to CloudLabs VM Labs ![Amit Malik](/_astro/Amit%20Malik.BrbemOie_ZUgPgC.webp) Amit Malik 7 min](https://cloudlabs.ai/blog/comprehensive-guide-migrating-from-azure-lab-services-to-cloudlabs-vm-labs) - [![Azure Lab Services Is Retiring: What It Means for You?](/images/blog/azure-lab-services-is-retiring-what-it-means-for-you/azure-lab-services-is-retiring-featured-image.png) Published Nov 17, 2025 ### Azure Lab Services Is Retiring: What It Means for You? ![Harshal Charde](/_astro/Harshad.Df90pNER_ZptAfR.webp) Harshal Charde 10 min](https://cloudlabs.ai/blog/azure-lab-services-is-retiring-what-it-means-for-you) - [![Migrate From Azure Lab Services Without Breaking Student Experience](/images/blog/migrate-from-azure-lab-services-without-breaking-student-experience/migrate-from-azure-lab-services-1x-768x432.webp) Published Mar 6, 2026 ### Migrate From Azure Lab Services Without Breaking Student Experience ![Amit Malik](/_astro/Amit%20Malik.BrbemOie_ZUgPgC.webp) Amit Malik 5 min](https://cloudlabs.ai/blog/migrate-from-azure-lab-services-without-breaking-student-experience) - [![Best Alternatives to Microsoft Azure Lab Services in 2026](/images/blog/azure-lab-services-alternatives-in-2026/azure-lab-services-alternatives-in-2026.webp) Published Aug 23, 2024 ### Best Alternatives to Microsoft Azure Lab Services in 2026 ![Amit Malik](/_astro/Amit%20Malik.BrbemOie_ZUgPgC.webp) Amit Malik 13 min](https://cloudlabs.ai/blog/azure-lab-services-alternatives-in-2026) [Read More](https://cloudlabs.ai/blog?category=azure) Case Studies ## 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. - [![Seneca Polytechnic faculty and students using CloudLabs for Azure training](/_astro/CaseStudy1.Cn_5b-yV_Z22nP3x.webp) ![Seneca Polytechnic](/_astro/seneca.BbSQ7gGd.svg) Read case study](https://cloudlabs.ai/case-studies/seneca-polytechnic-it-training-hands-on-labs) - [![Students learning AI and cloud skills at Wayne Community College](/_astro/Casestudy2%20(2).DSjdzFJG_ZSVcdN.webp) ![Wayne Community College](/_astro/WCC-Logo-Full-color-W-on-left-LARGE.DtC29Wpj_ZOyasr.webp) Read case study](https://cloudlabs.ai/case-studies/wayne-community-college-ai-900-labs-cloudlabs) - [![Databricks Data + AI Summit on-demand labs powered by CloudLabs](/_astro/CaseStudy3.DnVeWghg_1doXzv.webp) ![Databricks](/_astro/databricks.B-Yx4mh__ZGc092.webp) Read case study](https://cloudlabs.ai/case-studies/databricks-data-ai-summit-on-demand-labs) [View all case studies](https://cloudlabs.ai/case-studies) Client Stories ## Why Organizations Choose CloudLabs Discover how CloudLabs helps organizations streamline lab operations, reduce manual effort, and deliver impactful hands-on experiences at scale. > "We are incredibly pleased with our experience using CloudLabs by Spektra Systems. Their responsiveness and support have been nothing short of outstanding. They demonstrated remarkable flexibility in accommodating our unique processes, resulting in a seamless and highly productive collaboration. Thanks to CloudLabs, we have successfully delivered Azure-related courses to a substantial number of students." ![Seneca College](/_astro/seneca.BbSQ7gGd.svg) ![David Trinh](/_astro/David%20Trinh.ZIC8c9Lg_REgMI.webp) David Trinh Academic Program Manager, Seneca Polytechnic [View all success stories](https://cloudlabs.ai/testimonials) ![David Trinh](/_astro/David%20Trinh.ZIC8c9Lg_REgMI.webp)![Tal Ein-Habar](/_astro/Tal%20Ein-Habar.D2tPwVPK_Z1tHGjt.webp)![Nina Sui](/_astro/Nina%20Sui.v3KjZuIL_Zk71M6.webp)![Armando Lacerda](/_astro/Armando%20Lacerda.DDYDz5gr_Z2u6aGC.webp)![Jeff Fatic](/_astro/Jeff%20Fatic.CTDxSruZ_ZzwoAx.webp)![Coree Mahoney](/_astro/Coree%20Mahoney.C9kKVuYP_Z17jI9a.webp) 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. [Create free account](https://cloudlabs.ai/demo?audience=edu) [Browse templates](https://cloudlabs.ai/virtual-labs) 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. [Start your migration](https://cloudlabs.ai/azure-lab-services) [Read the migration playbook](https://cloudlabs.ai/azure-lab-services#migration-guide) ## 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. [Buy CloudLabs VM Labs on Azure Marketplace](https://marketplace.microsoft.com/en-us/product/saas/spektra-systems.cloudlabs-vmlabs?tab=Overview) ## 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. - ### Standard Edition Included for all customers Contact methods Email 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 ### How to Reach Us Email: [labs-support@spektrasystems.com](mailto:labs-support@spektrasystems.com) Live Chat: [cloudlabs.ai/live-support-general](https://cloudlabs.ai/live-support-general/) 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 - Who uses VM Labs? - Can CloudLabs help us migrate from Azure Lab Services to CloudLabs VM Labs? - How quickly can we launch VM Labs? - Can VM Labs integrate with our LMS? VM Labs free trial ## Start your free trial Set up CloudLabs VM Labs and run your first labs before Azure Lab Services retires. - Access enabled within 24 hours Your trial is set up for you: create up to 5 labs with 3 deployments per lab. - Up to $2,000 in Azure credits Available for qualified Azure Lab Services migrations. - Migration tooling and expert guidance Move your lab plans, lab accounts, and VM images with help from our team. - 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. Full name Work email Organization / Institute Job role Use case Estimated learners / users By clicking Submit, I agree to the use of my personal data in accordance with the [Spektra Systems Privacy Notice](https://spektrasystems.com/privacy-policy/). Spektra Systems will not sell, trade, lease, or rent your personal data to third parties. The [Google Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply. Submit