The Cloud Migration Challenge
Moving to the cloud offers compelling benefits, but many libraries face a common barrier
You Want Cloud Benefits
- Modern, scalable infrastructure
- High availability and disaster recovery
- Predictable costs and flexibility
- No on-premise hardware to maintain
But You Don't Want To...
- Become AWS infrastructure experts
- Manage security patches and updates
- Continuously watch system health
- Troubleshoot when things break
- Plan for busy periods and costs
Managed Services Bridge This Gap
Get the benefits of cloud hosting without needing to become a cloud expert.
How Managed Services Work
You own everything; KohaSupport operates it with your approval and visibility
1. Your Cloud Account (AWS)
You maintain full ownership. Your Koha setup runs in your AWS account. You control access, see all costs directly from AWS, and can audit everything.
- No vendor lock-in
- Direct AWS billing to your account
- Full transparency and control
- Compliance with institutional policies
2. KohaSupport Operates It
KohaSupport handles the complexity. Using secure cross-account access (you can revoke anytime), KohaSupport deploys, monitors, updates, and maintains your Koha system.
- Initial deployment and configuration
- Monitoring and alerting
- Security patches and updates
- Performance optimization
- Backup management
3. Transparent Service Fee
Simple, transparent pricing. You pay a monthly service fee based on your library's needs, plus your AWS infrastructure costs (billed directly by AWS).
- Simpler budgeting: service fee + AWS costs visible in AWS billing
- Scaling limits can be set to keep costs predictable
- KohaSupport doesn't markup AWS costs
- Custom packages available
What's Included in Managed Services
Complete operational support for your Koha cloud platform
Setup & Configuration
- Complete deployment and go-live checklist
- Koha system configuration and testing
- SSL certificates and custom domain setup
- Email integration and deliverability
Backups & Recovery
- Automated backups of database and files
- Regular restore testing for data integrity
- Recovery procedures and documented processes
Monitoring & Alerts
- System health and performance tracking
- Automated notifications for issues
- Cost monitoring and optimization guidance
Updates & Security
- Operating system and application updates
- Koha version upgrades with planned maintenance windows
- Security best practices (access control, encryption options)
Optional add-ons: Data migration from your existing system and staff training on Koha administration. Learn more.
Technical details (optional)
Infrastructure: AWS CloudFormation templates, EC2 instances, RDS or Aurora databases, VPC networking, security groups, IAM roles
Monitoring: CloudWatch dashboards, custom metrics, log aggregation, performance tracking (database queries, response times, resource utilization)
Security: IAM least-privilege policies, CloudTrail audit logging, vulnerability scanning, encryption at rest and in transit
Backups: Automated snapshots, cross-region replication options, point-in-time recovery (retention based on tier)
Scaling: Right-sizing recommendations, auto-scaling configuration (Enterprise), load balancing, CDN options
Managed Services for Standard vs Enterprise
Two managed models aligned to your deployment tier
Managed for Standard
Production-ready deployment + guided onboarding
- Complete setup in your AWS account (security, backups, and monitoring basics)
- Koha configuration and testing for production readiness
- Optional add-on: Data migration from your existing ILS
- Optional add-on: Staff training on Koha administration
- DNS, SSL/TLS, and email configuration
- Backup and monitoring setup
- Optional: Ongoing operational support after launch
Simpler billing and clearer budgeting
Fixed project scope + optional monthly operations. Less day-to-day management for your team.
Managed for Enterprise
Enterprise architecture implementation + cost control guardrails
- Resilient architecture across multiple data centers
- High-performance database with backup and recovery options
- Handles busy periods with scaling limits you control
- Staging and recovery environments for testing
- Enhanced monitoring and alerting infrastructure
- Security hardening and compliance documentation
- Optional: Ongoing enterprise operations and support
Full control over scaling limits and costs
Predictable scope for enterprise infrastructure. KohaSupport configures guardrails aligned to your budget.
Free Tier is Self-Service Only
The Free tier is designed for evaluation and pilot deployments. It's self-service with comprehensive documentation.
When you're ready for production, choose Standard or Enterprise with optional managed services.
Compare: Managed vs Self-Service
Choose the deployment model that fits your organization
| Feature | Managed Services (KohaSupport operates it) |
Self-Service (You operate it) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Deployment | KohaSupport handles it | You deploy (with docs) |
| Monitoring | Included | Your responsibility |
| Security Updates | KohaSupport applies them | You apply them |
| Koha Upgrades | Tested & applied | You handle it |
| Backup Management | Automated | You configure |
| Troubleshooting | KohaSupport helps diagnose & resolve | Self-help (community) |
| AWS Infrastructure Costs | Direct AWS billing | Direct AWS billing |
| Software Licensing | AWS Marketplace subscription in your account (details confirmed in proposal) | AWS Marketplace subscription (per running instance) |
| AWS Account Ownership | You own | You own |
| Best For | Libraries wanting outcomes, not ops work | Organizations with IT/DevOps staff |
| Pricing | Custom quote + AWS costs | Free or hourly AMI fee + AWS costs |
Why Consider Managed Services?
Focus on library services, not infrastructure management
Operational Burden
Running cloud infrastructure requires specialized knowledge, ongoing maintenance time, and ongoing responsibility for system health and updates.
- Learning AWS services and best practices
- Applying security patches and updates
- Monitoring system health
- Troubleshooting when issues occur
- Planning capacity and managing costs
Managed Services Value
KohaSupport handles AWS infrastructure operations so your team can focus on what matters: library services for your patrons.
- Expert AWS and Koha knowledge applied
- Proactive maintenance and monitoring
- Issues diagnosed and resolved quickly
- Performance optimization over time
- Staff time focused on library mission
Cost-Effective Alternative
For many libraries, managed services are more cost-effective than hiring dedicated DevOps staff or diverting existing IT resources from other institutional priorities.
Two Ways to Start
Choose the path that fits your evaluation needs
Start with a 30-day free trial
Try Standard or Enterprise via AWS Marketplace with a 30-day trial. Test Koha in your AWS account with self-service deployment.
Start Standard 30-day trialBook a consultation
Schedule a call to discuss your requirements. KohaSupport will assess your needs, scope your deployment, and provide a custom proposal.
Book a consultationFrequently Asked Questions
Do I need my own AWS account?
Yes. Your Koha system runs in your AWS account, which you create and own. This ensures you maintain full control and ownership of your infrastructure and data. KohaSupport accesses your account securely using AWS IAM cross-account roles with least-privilege permissions. You can revoke access at any time.
What if I want to take over management later?
No problem! Since everything runs in your AWS account using standard AWS services and open CloudFormation templates, you can transition to self-management at any time. KohaSupport provides complete documentation and will assist with the transition.
How do AWS infrastructure costs work?
AWS bills you directly for infrastructure usage (EC2 instances, databases, storage, data transfer). You see these charges on your AWS bill with full transparency. KohaSupport doesn't markup or resell AWS services—you pay AWS's standard rates. The service fee is separate and covers operational management, not infrastructure.
What about data migration from our current system?
Data migration is included in managed service packages. KohaSupport extracts data from your existing ILS, maps it to Koha's data model, imports bibliographic and patron records, and validates the migration. The process is coordinated with your team to minimize disruption.
Can we still customize Koha?
Absolutely. You have full access to Koha's administration interface for system preferences, circulation rules, and standard configurations. For custom development (plugins, modifications), KohaSupport can handle that too or work with your preferred Koha developer.
What's the contract commitment?
Engagement terms are defined in the proposal based on your requirements.
How is this different from traditional Koha hosting?
Traditional hosting means your Koha instance runs in the vendor's infrastructure—you don't own or control it. With managed services in your AWS account, the infrastructure runs in your AWS account. You own everything, see all costs, maintain compliance with your institutional policies, and avoid vendor lock-in. KohaSupport just operates it for you.
What happens if we need to cancel?
Everything remains in your AWS account. You can choose to continue operating self-service (transitioning to AMI marketplace billing), find another service provider, or shut down the infrastructure. There's no data extraction needed—you already own everything.
Ready to Move to the Cloud Without the Operational Burden?
Schedule a consultation to discuss your library's needs and get a custom proposal