Starting in 2027, the Strategy platform will officially begin its transition to the cloud. However, organisations that prefer to maintain local installations will still have full on-premises support throughout 2027 and 2028, enabling a smooth, gradual migration.
Two cloud options will be available, MCE (Managed Cloud Enterprise) and MCS (Strategy Managed Cloud Standard). This article focuses on the MCS model, designed as a flexible and cost-efficient path to modernise your analytics environment.
What’s Included in MCS
With MCS, every organisation receives a minimum of 50 user licenses, including 4 Architect roles. If you require more, licenses can be scaled up to 300 users per cloud environment.
Each MCS license package comes with a comprehensive set of modern features:
- AI capabilities (Auto Dashboard, Bot, Modeling, Insights, and more)
- HyperIntelligence (Hyper Cards, Hyper Mobile, Hyper Office)
- Office 365 plug-in for integrating dashboards with Excel and PowerPoint
- Collaboration module
- Library Mobile access
- Mosaic integration
- Option to use REST API calls
What’s Not Included
Some legacy features will not be supported in the new MCS environment:
- Transaction Services
- Legacy Mobile interface
- Previous MS Office plug-in
Since MCS runs on AWS infrastructure, there is no direct access to the servers. Consequently, specific tools and functionalities familiar from the on-premises setup will be discontinued, including Developer and the legacy Web interface.
Tools for Administrators and Users
System management in MCS is simplified. All administrative functions are now unified in a single tool, Workstation, which replaces:
- Developer
- Object Manager
- Command Manager
- Configuration Manager
- License Manager
- Service Manager
End users will continue to access dashboards and reports through a browser, but via a modernised interface, Library.
We recommend preparing a transition plan to introduce the new interface smoothly. The CRMT team can assist with planning, training, and user enablement.
Both Workstation and Library represent a major step forward in modernising the BI experience, although some adaptation time will naturally be needed.
Migration Process
Migrating to the cloud requires careful preparation.
A direct migration from on-premises is possible only if your current environment runs at least version 11.3.7 (2021 Update 7 – September 2022). If you are on an older release, you must first upgrade before scheduling the cloud migration.
Migration can be executed via REST API calls or manually through migration packages. REST API migration options are available starting from Strategy One (June 2025).
Authentication and Configuration
The authentication options in MCS are simplified. LDAP is no longer supported.
Supported login methods include Standard, SAML, and OIDC.
You will also need to provide your SMTP server for notifications and alerting.
Subscriptions and API Limitations
When migrating via packages (instead of the API), subscriptions (automated report delivery) cannot be transferred automatically. They must be recreated manually or through the Subscription API, which currently supports only one subscription per request.
File subscriptions are no longer available and should be replaced by SharePoint or OneDrive alternatives.
User Permissions
After migration, user permissions will need to be redefined. The previous “reporter” role limitations no longer apply; consequently, administrators can grant broader access levels and more flexible rights configurations.
Why Move to the Cloud
- No More Server Infrastructure
MCS eliminates the need to manage hardware, Windows licensing, patches, and upgrades. Strategy’s cloud environment handles all maintenance.
- Automatic Upgrades and Updates
New releases are deployed automatically, with no downtime or manual effort. Users always operate on the latest version.
- Higher Security and Compliance
Hosted on AWS, MCS meets top-tier standards (ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR). Backups, encryption, and access controls are centrally managed.
- Faster Performance and Availability
Automatic server scaling ensures reliable performance even under heavy workloads and multiple concurrent users.
- Access from Anywhere
Dashboards and reports are available anytime, anywhere — via browser or Library Mobile, without VPN or local installations.
- Simplified Administration
All administrative tasks are consolidated within one tool — Workstation.
- Seamless IT Integration
MCS supports SAML and OIDC for SSO integration with enterprise identity providers like Azure AD or Okta.
- Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Eliminating infrastructure and maintenance reduces long-term costs and simplifies license management.
- Faster Access to Innovation
Because MCS always runs on the latest version, you immediately benefit from new capabilities such as AI Insights, HyperIntelligence, Auto Dashboard, and Collaboration — without waiting for the next upgrade cycle.
Plan Ahead for a Smooth Transition
While MCS offers clear technical and business advantages, successful migration depends on proper planning and execution.
CRMT can help you assess, prepare, and implement the entire migration process, ensuring a fast, secure, and disruption-free transition to the cloud.
Contact us to simplify your Strategy Cloud migration with expert guidance from our team.
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