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Your Computers Aren’t Outdated — Your Software Is.

CReSED (Cloud-Ready Secure Education Distribution) is a school-ready operating system built on Ubuntu Pro, offering a secure, affordable alternative to Microsoft Windows for educational institutions

Educational institutions have long relied on Microsoft’s ecosystem – from Windows on school computers to Office software, Active Directory for managing users, SharePoint for collaboration, OneDrive for cloud storage, and Outlook/Exchange for email. These tools are familiar and functional, but they come with licensing costs, hardware demands, and vendor lock-in. As technology evolves and budgets tighten, schools and government decision-makers are exploring alternatives that can deliver similar capabilities in a more cost-effective, flexible way. In October 2025, Microsoft will end support for Windows 10, which means many older school PCs that cannot meet Windows 11’s requirements will be left behind.

Rather than scrapping serviceable laptops or paying for expensive upgrades, schools can “replace the system, not the laptops”.

This is where CReSED (Cloud-Ready Secure Education Distribution) comes in. Developed by educators and technologists in Australia, CReSED is an Ubuntu Pro-based operating system designed specifically for schools. It provides a drop-in alternative to the Microsoft ecosystem that runs on existing hardware and delivers modern tools for learning, collaboration, and administration.

 

In plain terms, CReSED lets a school do (almost) everything they do with Microsoft – but with open-source software that is secure, affordable, and under the school’s control.

 

This overview explains what CReSED is, how it functions as an Ubuntu Pro-based alternative to Microsoft’s platform in schools, and compares its components to Microsoft Windows, Active Directory, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Office in practical terms. We’ll also highlight the productivity tools and educational software bundled with or supported by CReSED – from office suites like LibreOffice/OnlyOffice to STEM tools like Python, Scratch, and Arduino IDE, multimedia applications like GIMP and Audacity, and options for email and communication. The aim is to give education and government decision-makers a clear, structured understanding of CReSED’s capabilities in language that balances technical detail with accessibility.

CReSED is an Ubuntu Pro-based operating system purpose-built for schools and educational environments. It replaces Windows and its ecosystem, delivering the same core capabilities through open-source alternatives:

 

  • Operating System: Ubuntu Pro (instead of Windows)
  • Directory Services: Samba Active Directory (instead of Windows Server AD)
  • Cloud Storage: Nextcloud (instead of OneDrive)
  • Collaboration Tools: Nextcloud and OnlyOffice (instead of SharePoint and Microsoft 365)
  • Office Suite: LibreOffice and OnlyOffice (instead of Microsoft Office)
  • Email: Thunderbird and open-source groupware (instead of Outlook/Exchange)

With CReSED, schools can achieve full user management, secure logins, collaborative document editing, and seamless cloud storage — all on hardware that might otherwise be scrapped.

The Microsoft Comparison

Microsoft Product CReSED Equivalent Description
Windows 10/11 Ubuntu Pro Stable, secure OS with long-term support
Active Directory Samba Active Directory Central user/device management
OneDrive Nextcloud (Ubuntu Drive) School-hosted cloud storage
SharePoint Nextcloud Collaboration Shared folders, document co-authoring
Office 365 LibreOffice/OnlyOffice Word/Excel/PowerPoint-compatible tools
Outlook/Exchange Thunderbird + open-source mail Full email and calendar tools

CReSED covers all the core needs while staying open, cost-effective, and fully customizable.

Why Switch to CReSED?

  1. Save Money: No per-user licenses, subscriptions, or vendor lock-in. Schools spend less on software and more on education.

  2. Use Existing Hardware: Revive older laptops and desktops that can’t run Windows 11. CReSED works great on hardware as old as 10 years with SSD upgrades.

  3. Data Sovereignty: All school data stays on local servers. No third-party cloud ownership.

  4. 10-More-Year Security Updates: Ubuntu Pro provides long-term security patches, compliance tools, and live kernel patching.

  5. Flexible Support: Schools can manage in-house or purchase low-cost annual support per device.

  6. Built for Schools: Comes preconfigured for classroom and school use, including safe browsing, student/staff logins, and content filtering tools.

Office Suite and Productivity Tools

CReSED includes:

  • LibreOffice for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations
  • OnlyOffice for real-time collaboration and online editing in the browser
  • Compatibility with Microsoft formats like DOCX, XLSX, PPTX
  • PDF export, mail merge, templates, and all standard productivity features
  • Teachers and students can open, edit, and share files without needing Microsoft Office.

 

STEM and Multimedia Software

CReSED supports a huge library of free, open-source tools for education:

  • Coding: Python, Scratch, Arduino IDE
  • Math & Science: GeoGebra, Kalzium, Stellarium
  • Audio & Video: Audacity, OpenShot, Kdenlive
  • Graphics: GIMP, Inkscape
  • 3D Design: Blender
  • Robotics: Support for Arduino, Micro:bit, Raspberry Pi

 

These tools help schools deliver a full STEM curriculum without licensing costs.

 

Cloud Storage and Collaboration

CReSED includes Ubuntu Drive — a branded, school-controlled Nextcloud server that replaces OneDrive:

  • Personal cloud storage for students and staff
  • Shared folders for classes and clubs
  • Real-time co-editing with OnlyOffice
  • Web-based file access at school and home
  • Full control of data and access rights

 

It also includes calendar, video conferencing (Nextcloud Talk), and task/project tools.

Email and Communication

Schools can integrate:

  • Thunderbird as an Outlook alternative
  • Nextcloud Mail or self-hosted groupware for full email/calendars
  • Nextcloud Talk for video meetings and chat

Staff and students can stay connected while keeping communications private and school-managed.

 

User and Device Management

CReSED offers domain-style logins, managed with a built-in Samba Active Directory controller:

  • Centralised account and password control
  • Secure student and staff logins
  • Group-based permission control
  • Print and file server integration
  • Policy management tools

This replicates the functionality of Windows Server AD environments without the cost.

Security and Compliance

Ubuntu Pro provides:

  • Up to 10 years of security updates
  • Livepatch kernel updates with no reboots
  • FIPS-certified encryption
  • CIS and DISA-STIG compliance tools
  • CReSED gives schools enterprise-grade protection without requiring antivirus or expensive endpoint solutions.

Who Uses CReSED?

Developed in Australia, CReSED is used in:

  • Regional schools replacing Windows 10

  • African schools with limited resources

  • Classrooms teaching coding and STEM

  • Government-funded education pilots

It is supported by Digital Education Systems and Ubuntu (Canonical), with partnerships that ensure a high-quality user experience.

CReSED is a cloud-ready, secure, and sustainable replacement for the Microsoft school IT ecosystem. It empowers schools to take control of their technology without compromise.

If your school is stuck in the Windows 10 end-of-life dilemma — or just wants to modernise without spending thousands — CReSED offers a way forward.

No more forced upgrades. No more license fees. No more lock-in.

Just the freedom to teach, learn, and manage school IT your way.

Explore CReSED today.