On-premises SIS · Serves California, Michigan, and Alaska only
Q runs on your servers.
That’s a question your district shouldn’t have to answer for.
Fair question to start with: why is a K-12 SIS still storing student data in a SQL Server database on your district’s own hardware in 2026? Q serves three states and asks your IT team to manage servers, backups, and security patches – at a moment when K-12 districts are a near-constant ransomware target.
Alma runs fully in the cloud. No on-premises risk, no weekend server maintenance, and full state reporting for every state your district operates in.
Where Aequitas Q reveals its limits
“The reports look outdated. It crashes lots of times – I think it is our servers that do that.”
– Verified review · G2
“Q is an on-premises SIS solution. Data is stored in a SQL Server database housed by the client.”
– Aequitas iKeepSafe Privacy Profile · Factual statement
“K-12 districts have been a near-constant ransomware target.”
– U.S. Department of Homeland Security Threat Assessment · 2024
Alma vs. Aequitas Q
Aequitas Q lives on your servers. Alma lives in the cloud.
Alma’s modern cloud architecture takes the on-premises risk off your IT team.
| Category | Alma | Aequitas Q |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud-native platform | ||
| Available in all states | CA, MI, AK only | |
| No local server required | ||
| Built-in AI analytics | ||
| Integrated LMS | ||
| Drag-and-drop report card design | Limited | |
| Standards-based grading | Basic | |
| Family portal included | ||
| API available | ||
| Transparent pricing | ||
| FERPA & student data privacy | ||
| Responsive support |
Why districts choose Alma over Aequitas Q.
Alma’s fully cloud-hosted platform eliminates the on-premises database risk Aequitas Q still asks your district to manage.
The question your IT team shouldn’t have to own
Q stores all student data locally, managed by your district’s own IT infrastructure. Ransomware attacks on K-12 districts hit a record pace in 2024 – districts running on-premises SIS products are prime targets. Alma stores nothing locally. No servers to breach, no backups to manage, no IT burden on your team.
Updates that don’t require a question to IT
On-premises systems require your IT team to manage and apply updates. Alma’s cloud architecture means every district gets the latest features, security patches, and state reporting updates automatically – with no downtime and no work on your end.
Q answers two states. Alma answers all of them.
Q’s strength is California and Michigan compliance. Alma matches that depth and adds what Q doesn’t have: an integrated LMS, drag-and-drop report card design, AI-powered analytics, and a gradebook built the way teachers actually work.
Support without a question mark
Aequitas is a 13-person company supporting over a million students. Alma’s dedicated support team is responsive, knowledgeable, and sized to handle whatever your district needs throughout the school year.
“Moving off on-premises SIS to Alma meant our IT team stopped spending weekends on server maintenance. And when the ransomware attacks started hitting neighboring districts, we were relieved we had already made the move.”
– Director of Technology, California K-12 District
The bottom line
Q is a capable SIS.
The infrastructure behind it raises too many questions.
Designed for educators, not administrators
Alma’s interface is built around how teachers and counselors actually work, not around database architecture. Every click is intentional.
AI that surfaces answers, not more reports
BeaconAI turns raw SIS data into early warnings and actionable insights without requiring a data team to make sense of it.
A partner that picks up the phone
Alma customers consistently call out support as a standout differentiator. Real people, fast responses, no ticket black holes.
Implementation that respects the school year
No multi-year rollouts. No mid-year chaos. Alma’s onboarding is structured to get schools and districts live and confident before students arrive.
Ready to stop asking where your student data lives?
See how Alma compares in a personalized demo built around your district’s needs.
