With e-Research, online education, and digital workspaces becoming more the norm, it's crucial that Auburn provide the network to ensure success. OIT has started replacing internet switches, which are what allow devices to connect to the Auburn Networks, every two years. These devices allow for more reliable and robust internet connections all across campus. And because the campus network currently operates at around 85% capacity during peak periods, 2019 will bring doubled internet connectivity and greater resilience to off-campus interruptions.
in 2018, OIT teams began moving more services into a more fault tolerant “cloud” environment. The establishment of services such as Box, Lastpass, Email within Office 365, and a pilot instance of Banner were just the first steps in the strategy. In 2019 campus will see the strategy begin to unfold further. A more efficient mix of on premise and cloud-based storage and service management will begin to take shape.
Technology has been infused into all aspects of our campus’ daily operations, from teaching and learning to paying the staff and paying the bills. While automation can be an enabler, it can also pose new risks. An extended service outage is unacceptable.
As stated, OIT has already started to move critical business systems to the cloud. However, getting to the cloud and being able to access services therein are two different things. In 2018, OIT successfully bid for the procurement of new and diverse internet circuits which will double our bandwidth outside of the University. In 2019, OIT will begin modernizing the Identity and Access Management system, the system that verifies who you are and what you can access. This work will continue until Auburn can run its daily business from anywhere if faced with a major outage on campus.
Armed with information from an external review of Auburn's IT procedures, members of OIT leadership spent 2018 reviewing areas that could be improved and outlining plans to make that happen. From there, OIT hosted a series of town halls within the IT community and across campus to find out what the campus community wants and needs in terms of technology.
All of that information will come together to help OIT leadership generate a strategic plan that will guide the IT efforts and goals for the next 3-5 years. This plan's structure will be designed to align with the University-wide strategic plan that was announced at the beginning of 2019, and it will serve the needs of the campus as a whole.
