The Business Investment Programme, addressing the recommendations of the 2010 ITS Review, the Student IT Needs Survey 2010, and Auditor findings concerning risk, business continuity and disaster recovery, is now well underway.

The focus for 2011 projects is the replacement of the university data network plus “Student Mobility”, prioritising those aspects of the programme that will facilitate a much improved student cross-faculty IT experience to coincide with the introduction of New Courses 2012. 

Further background on the programme can be found in the April edition of Information Services News and more detailed project documentation has been published on the Business Investment Programme sharepoint site, referenced at the end of this article.

Project Status as of May 20th 2011

1. Network Project - Project Manager - Wendy Huang
Network Architect - Milan Easton-Reid - CISCO

• High level Network Design complete
• Network equipment ordered and delivery to campus has begun
• Low level detailed design now underway in consultation with Faculty IT and Cisco
• Core network completion expected November 2011
• Infrastructure improvements due to start during May include improved  network cabling between buildings, a second high speed Internet connection and a second network link to QEII.

2. Active Directory Consolidation - Project Manager - Mike Gorman
Design Architect - Jeremy Saunders

• Draft Design for a Centralised Active Directory (UNIWA)for authentication of all staff and students from one central source circulated for comment
• Central Active Directory has been built and is ready for testing in May 2011
• Priority is to migrate student PC lab authentication to the new directory for rebuild of labs during the 2011 summer break.

3. Identity and Access Management - Project Manager - Mike Gorman
Design Architect - Brad Rosman - DiData

• Microsoft Forefront Identity Manager 2010 (FIM) has been selected as the platform to provide key functionality to manage the end to end lifecycles of identities, enforce policies, provide access to resources and consolidate identity information into a single store.
• High Level Design complete
• FIM Student Mobility 2012 Roadmap outlining the steps to be undertaken in 2011 to address the business priorities for 2012 has been circulated.
• Initial  build and testing is underway
• Expected mid-year delivery of core functionality required to support AD and password synchronisation
• Discussions with HR and Student Services about database views underway

4. Data Centre Consolidation - Project Manager - Sam Amsha

• Details regarding current Server and Data Storage facilities around campus have been  collected
• Detailed discussions underway with data centre providers re moving much of the fragmented data storage around campus offsite to provide a resilient, secure and scalable  data management environment to address current data risk.
• Data handling stratergy proposal due

5. Student Printing - Project Manager – Sam Amsha

Looking at current solutions across campus to enable us to propose a new universal printing model for use across campus. Solution expected to be decided midyear with implementation towards the end of the year.

More detailed documentation regarding the programme and projects can be found on the Business Improvement Programme Sharepoint site.

This site is accessible by all UWA staff using your Pheme login details

For further information, contact Alison Trpevski, Associate Director Client Services, Information Services on phone 6488 2119 or email alison.trpevski@uwa.edu.au

Photo of Dr Mary Davies by Lindy Brophy