Every institution eventually faces a crossroads when change becomes necessary for improvement and continuity.
At the University of California, Irvine, that moment arrived in 2024 when the university's longtime Cascade CMS on-premises administrator prepared to retire after nearly two decades of dedicated service.
With over 200 websites to support and no successor in place, it could have been a disruptive turning point.
However, under the steady leadership of Todd McGill and the UC Irvine web team, the transition became something else entirely: an opportunity to think bigger, plan smarter, and future-proof the university's digital infrastructure.
McGill and his colleagues approached the situation not as a crisis but as a chance to realign operations with modern needs.
Rather than rush to fill a deeply specialized technical role, the team explored a more sustainable solution. This solution would eliminate the need for internal server maintenance, backups, and manual updates while improving performance and reliability.
That decision led the team to migrate its Cascade on-premises environment to Cascade Cloud, a move that would require careful timing, rigorous testing, and thoughtful communication with stakeholders across campus.
With retirement on the horizon and critical institutional knowledge still on hand, the UC Irvine team built a plan that put people and processes first.
The migration effort was driven by UC Irvine's commitment to minimizing disruption and maximizing clarity.
McGill's team coordinated closely with Hannon Hill's Support and Systems Team to:
This wasn't just a technical handoff.
It was a well-executed leadership exercise in aligning operations, communication, and technology.
The UC Irvine team executed the production migration smoothly and without disruption, and the benefits were immediately evident once the new cloud environment was live:
"Once the database migration went off without any issues, and once we experienced the responsiveness and performance improvements with Cascade Cloud, we knew immediately we made the right decision," said McGill.
The migration was more than a technical win. It was a proactive investment in the university's digital health, led by a team that anticipated change, planned thoughtfully, and confidently delivered results.
McGill's reflections highlight the value of strategic partnerships and internal alignment.
"Handing the responsibility for managing Cascade CMS off to Hannon Hill meant there was no disruption to our operations," he said.
"Their team brought fully developed expertise from the start. It was built-in, ready, and turnkey. This move is going to save a lot of time in many small doses."
For higher ed institutions navigating staffing changes, tightening budgets, or evolving technical needs, UC Irvine's story is a powerful example of what's possible when internal teams lead the way with confidence, collaboration, and clear vision.
A bright future shaped by strategy and teamwork
The success of UC Irvine's migration wasn't defined by technology alone. It was shaped by the people behind it.
Their ability to rally around a challenge, bring the right voices to the table, and make informed decisions ensured a smooth transition that will benefit the university for years to come.
At the heart of this story is a team that didn't just maintain continuity, they elevated it.
If your institution is facing similar challenges, whether it's impending staff transitions, rising infrastructure costs, or the need for more scalable performance, UC Irvine's journey shows what's possible with the right strategy and the right support.
Let's explore how Cascade Cloud can help your team reduce complexity, gain efficiencies, and focus on what matters most.
Last Updated: May 1, 2025 11:00 AM
