University IT
Website Infrastructure Options
Vibe coding a website? Considering it? UIT is working on gathering resources to help you make the best out of AI-assisted coding. Stanford Web Services is now offering Vibe Coding Office Hours on Wednesdays, 3-4 p.m., and Fridays, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. to help get your website up and running.
Learn more about website platform options to fit your department, people, unit, or school's website needs.
Explore these content management systems for your website, with custom URL options available.
Please note: Stanford Sites is University IT's preferred website infrastructure platform for the community.
| Features | Stanford Sites | Google Sites | Stanford Domains | Custom Web Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended Uses | Scalable, centrally-managed Stanford-branded website for your group, department or unit websites on Drupal with deep support. | Small, simple personal websites, project team sites, or portfolio or event websites that are short term. No Stanford branding provided; can be managed with little to no technical skill. | Small, low-traffic personal websites, portfolios, wikis, or prototypes for learning new applications as a student. | Scalable, custom developed website or web application. Simple website that requires single sign-on (SSO); complex dynamic web applications built with Python, PHP, Java or other languages; or web applications that need connections to custom databases or other Stanford applications, using a microservice approach. |
| Authentication (SSO) | Stanford users, workgroups, and private groups are supported. | Supported: Stanford Users & Workgroups (should be mapped to Google groups) Not supported: Private groups (e.g., staff, faculty) Can leverage Google authentication for non-Stanford users. | Limited Support | Stanford users workgroups, and private groups are supported. |
| Maintenance: Upgrades/Security | Managed by Stanford Web Services (SWS) | Managed by Google | Vendor-managed security updates for provided applications; self-managed plugin updates | Application code managed by site owner; infrastructure managed by Client Technology Solutions and Consulting (CTSC). |
| Risk Classification | Low Risk | Low Risk | Low Risk | Low Risk, Moderate Risk, and High Risk |
| Themes, Modules or Plugins | Pre-selected and maintained by SWS | N/A | Installed and maintained by site owner | Deployed and maintained by site owner. |
| Disk Space | No hard limit but encouraged to use different service for hosting large files | Based on Google Drive quota | 1 GB (increase upon request); encouraged to use different service for hosting large files | No limit |
| Uptime/Availability | Highest | High | High* *non-redundant infrastructure | Highest |
| Available Apps | Integration with Stanford Events and Stanford Profiles | Integration with Google Drive and all Google apps | WordPress, MediaWiki, Drupal, Omeka, CGI, static HTML, and more | Can integrate with any cloud or on-prem service. |
| Digital Accessibility |
| Site owner responsibility | Site owner responsibility | Site owner responsibility |
| Available Self-Service Application Support |
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| Application is developed and supported by site owner; infrastructure is supported by CTSC. |
| Available UIT Service Support (UIT-supported service infrastructure and configuration) | Supported | Supported | Supported | Supported |
| Fee-based UIT Service Support (Consulting & website building ) | Supported | Limited Support Consulting services only | Supported | Supported |
| Cost | Free | Free | Free | Paid |
| Learn more | Stanford Sites | Google Sites | Stanford Domains |
An intranet is a private network accessible only to an organization's staff. It is designed to facilitate communication, collaboration, and information sharing within an organization.
Stanford Sites Intranet
Stanford Sites Intranet is a fee-based service for building and managing a website for private, secure information sharing. It offers integration with Stanford systems and the same substantial functionality available in Stanford Sites.
*Approved for Moderate Risk data
Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft SharePoint is a web-based app to manage content in Microsoft 365, including the files you work with in Teams. It provides a secure place to store, organize, share, and access information online and from any device.
*Approved for High Risk data
Confluence
Confluence is a wiki — a website that allows any authorized user to add, delete, or revise content via a web browser. This powerful collaboration tool by Atlassian can be used by teams to collect and document requirements, post project or individual status, publish environment links, and much more.
*Approved for High Risk, non-PHI data
Note about AFS-based websites
The AFS-based websites service (on web.stanford.edu) is deprecated and should be used only if your web hosting needs cannot be met through other service offerings mentioned on this page.
For anyone currently using an AFS-based website, please take steps to move necessary content to one of the other services.
This guidance does not apply to AFS-based web sites that are part of the Course Support system. And please note that the recommended learning management system (LMS) for Stanford continues to be Canvas.
The Drupal Hosting on Acquia service is designed for departments, units, or schools with complex websites that require more storage and/or higher traffic capacity. Visit the Drupal Hosting on Acquia service homepage for more information.
