Welcome to the Designer Cloud Discussion Forum!

Welcome to the Designer Cloud discussion forum in the Alteryx Community! Whether you're already a user of the product or you want to explore and learn more, this is a great place to ask questions about the product and get answers from other users and Alteryx associates.

If you want to see Designer Cloud in action, check out the product tour here. And to learn even more, you can go through the Designer Cloud Interactive Lessons.

When answering questions in this forum, please make sure that your solution leverages Designer Cloud (and not Designer Desktop).

If you have used the product, then don't hesitate to post in this forum your experiences and use cases as well. We'd love to hear from you!

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Accepted answers

kimyohannan

Hi Jamie - I just sent you an email requesting a time to talk so I can provide you with an update on Designer Cloud access via the SparkED program. - Best, Kim

All comments

jdiaz881

Hi! I have an educator license and have always had issues fully implementing Alteryx in my course because of the operating system requirement. Would student licenses be valid for the cloud-based platform?

DataNath

Nice! Hoping to get hold of a license and start having a play around with DC soon.

jdiaz881

...also when I request an educator license for designer cloud it won't go through because of the .edu email address?

Khelly

Love this!

Dennis

Interested on learning this technology

TimN

This is cool!

AA_alteryx

Hi Megan,
Hope you doing well!
I was going through different Alteryx products as I am new to Alteryx and I came up with few comparisons based on my understanding, but as I am new in Alteryx world I would also like seek your/Alteryx team guidance to leave feedback around these comparisons. I would appreciate if someone from your team can verify these comparisons and check if there is any modifications required or any pointers that could be added further and may have missed, it would be really helpful.

Here’s a comparison table of Alteryx On-Premises and Alteryx Cloud, with elaborated descriptions for each aspect based on my understanding:

Feature/Aspect	Alteryx On-Premises	Alteryx Cloud
Deployment	Requires installation on local servers or machines, involving significant setup time.	Cloud-based, accessible via web browsers, enabling quick deployment without local installations.
Infrastructure Management	Managed by the organization’s IT team; requires resources for hardware and software maintenance.	Managed by Alteryx, reducing the IT burden and allowing teams to focus on analytics rather than infrastructure.
Scalability	Scaling involves purchasing additional hardware or software licenses, which can be costly and time-consuming.	Highly scalable; organizations can quickly adjust resources based on demand without physical changes.
Accessibility	Limited to internal networks; remote access may require VPNs, complicating access for remote teams.	Accessible from anywhere with internet connectivity, facilitating remote work and collaboration.
Collaboration	Collaboration features may be limited, requiring additional tools for effective teamwork.	Built-in collaboration tools enable real-time sharing of projects and data, enhancing teamwork across locations.
Cost Structure	Involves upfront licensing fees and ongoing maintenance costs, which can be substantial over time.	Subscription-based pricing allows for predictable monthly or annual costs without large initial investments.
Updates	Updates must be managed manually by IT, risking outdated software if not regularly maintained.	Automatic updates managed by Alteryx ensure users have access to the latest features and security improvements.
Data Security	Complete control over data security and compliance, crucial for sensitive industries.	Strong security measures implemented by Alteryx, but organizations must trust the vendor’s data protection capabilities.
Integration	Integrates well with existing local databases and tools, but may require setup for cloud integrations.	Easy integration with other cloud services and APIs, streamlining data workflows and enhancing capabilities.
User Interface	Desktop interface may require more training, particularly for new users unfamiliar with the software.	User-friendly web interface designed for ease of use, reducing the learning curve for new users.
Performance	Dependent on local hardware capabilities, which can vary significantly between organizations.	Generally high performance leveraging robust cloud infrastructure, effectively handling large datasets and complex processes.
Data Governance	Full control over data governance policies, ensuring compliance with internal standards.	Compliance relies on Alteryx’s security measures; organizations must ensure alignment with their governance requirements.
Backup & Recovery	Organizations manage their own backup and disaster recovery strategies, which can be complex.	Alteryx manages backups and disaster recovery, providing assurance that data is regularly saved and can be restored.

Summary:
Alteryx On-Premises is ideal for organizations requiring stringent control over their data and infrastructure, typically in regulated industries.

Alteryx Cloud is suited for teams looking for flexibility, ease of access, and reduced IT overhead, making it advantageous for collaborative and remote work environments.

MeganBowers

Hi @AA_alteryx,

Thank you for reaching out and for putting together this insightful comparison table!

Our goal with Designer Cloud isn’t to replace Designer Desktop but to complement it, meeting each customer wherever they are on their cloud journey. While some customers are currently comfortable with on-prem solutions, others are advancing toward cloud-native environments.

Here’s an overview of what differentiates Designer Cloud from Designer Desktop (thanks to @javier_rios for his help with this!):

Flexible Deployment Options: Designer Cloud provides a variety of deployment architectures, from a convenient SaaS solution to more intricate Private Data Handling options. This flexibility allows customers to choose a setup tailored to their unique needs.
Simplified Licensing & Updates: In Designer Cloud, licenses are managed by Workspace Admins through email invitations, eliminating the need for license keys. Plus, all updates are cloud-based, ensuring users always have the latest version without any manual upgrades.
Seamless Data Integration & Familiar Interface: Designer Cloud seamlessly integrates with local files and data warehouses, with an interface that closely mirrors the on-prem experience. The low-code/no-code capabilities remain core to both platforms.
Cloud-Based Processing for High-Performance Computing: While Designer Desktop processes data on your local hardware, Designer Cloud leverages cloud-based computing, offering enhanced performance, especially with large datasets. And because it’s a web application, Designer Cloud works across both Mac and PC.

We hope this adds more clarity to your comparison table.

AA_alteryx

Thank you so much for all the explanations. Really appreciate.

shivathota

Hi everyone,

I’ve begun watching interactive sessions to prepare for the core certification exam. I’m trying to practice the Alteryx challenges on my Mac, but I’m having trouble because the input files are in yxmd format, which isn’t supported by the cloud.

Apart from running my desktop on a virtual machine, are there any other alternatives for practicing the challenges in cloud? I believe Quest challenges are not beginner friendly.

Appreciate your valuable suggestions.

Thanks

Shiva

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