Our Organization
The departments of the Office of Information Technology report to and are led by Dr Nicolas, Head of the Information Technology.
For an overview of the organizational structure of Aamusted IT , see the Organizational Chart. IT departments are described below.
Enterprise infrastructure services
The Enterprise Infrastructure Services (EIS) department at Aamusted University, led by Dr. Nicolas, plays a vital role in supporting the university’s research, teaching, and administrative functions. The EIS team architects, engineers, and operates the university-wide IT infrastructure, ensuring its smooth operation across all campuses.
Services Offered:
EIS leverages both cloud-based and on-premise infrastructure to deliver a comprehensive suite of services:
- Network Connectivity: This includes managing Aamusted’s robust wireless and wired networks, enabling seamless connectivity for everyone on campus.
- IT Service Monitoring: The EIS team proactively monitors IT services to ensure optimal performance and identify potential issues before they disrupt operations.
- Identity and Access Management: EIS safeguards university data and resources by managing user identities, access rights, and directory services.
- Communication Infrastructure: They maintain and support Aamusted’s email infrastructure and web hosting platforms, facilitating communication and collaboration across the university community.
- Integrated Telephony Services: EIS ensures reliable and efficient phone services for faculty, staff, and students.
- Compute and Storage: The team provides robust computing and storage solutions to meet the university’s diverse research and teaching needs.
- Data Center and Network Hub Management: EIS oversees the university’s main data centers and network hub sites, which house critical IT infrastructure.
- Critical Infrastructure Support: They provide dedicated support for Aamusted’s critical infrastructure, ensuring its continuous operation and security.
EIS Sub-Groups:
To effectively manage Aamusted’s complex IT landscape, the EIS department comprises several dedicated sub-groups:
- Cloud Infrastructure Services and Digital Repositories
- Critical Infrastructure
- Enterprise Performance and IT Service Monitoring
- Enterprise Servers and Storage
- Identity and Access Management
- Network Services
- Strategic Projects & Operations
By providing a robust and secure IT infrastructure, the Aamusted University EIS department is instrumental in fostering a technologically advanced environment that empowers research, teaching, and administrative excellence.
Information security
The Information Security Office (ISO) at Aamusted University, led by Head of IT Dr. Nicolas and a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), plays a critical role in safeguarding the university’s information assets. The ISO team develops a comprehensive information security strategy that aligns with the university’s overall goals and ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive data.
Key Responsibilities:
- Information Security Strategy: The ISO develops and maintains a robust information security strategy, outlining policies, procedures, and controls to protect university data from unauthorized access, modification, or disruption.
- Information and Technology Risk Management Program: The ISO proactively identifies, analyzes, and mitigates IT-related risks. This includes conducting regular IT risk assessments and developing comprehensive disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity in case of incidents.
- Information Security Incident Response: The ISO establishes a defined approach for responding to security incidents. This includes incident detection, containment, eradication, and recovery procedures to minimize the impact of any security breaches.
- Security Services: The ISO offers a range of services to enhance the university’s security posture:
- Information Security Consulting: The ISO provides expert guidance and support to departments and individuals on best practices for data security.
- IT Security Forensics: In case of security incidents, the ISO team can conduct forensic investigations to identify the root cause and implement corrective measures.
- IT Risk Assessments and Recovery Planning: The ISO works collaboratively across departments to assess potential security risks and develop recovery plans to minimize downtime and data loss.
- Information Security Education and Outreach: The ISO raises awareness about information security practices among faculty, staff, and students. This includes providing training materials, conducting workshops, and promoting a culture of cyber hygiene within the university community.
By implementing a comprehensive information security program, the Aamusted University ISO works diligently to protect valuable data and maintain a secure digital environment that fosters trust and academic excellence.
Operations and planning
Aamusted University’s Operations and Planning (OP) department, under the leadership of Dr. Nicolas, plays a strategic role in driving the university’s IT initiatives forward. The OP team identifies and implements key IT projects that enhance and strengthen campus-wide IT services. Additionally, they focus on optimizing the internal Operations and Information Technology (OIT) unit’s financial and organizational effectiveness.
Core Functions:
The OP department comprises several functional groups dedicated to achieving its goals:
- OIT Budget and Finance: This group meticulously manages the OIT budget, ensuring efficient allocation of resources to support critical IT projects and operations. They also develop financial plans and monitor expenditures to optimize resource utilization.
- Contract and Vendor Management: The team establishes and oversees contracts with external vendors who provide IT services or equipment. They ensure the university receives the best value for its IT investments and manage vendor relationships effectively.
- Strategic Communications: This group plays a vital role in communicating IT initiatives and strategies to faculty, staff, and students. They develop clear and concise communication materials and foster a culture of transparency regarding IT developments.
- Organizational Effectiveness: The team continuously evaluates the OIT unit’s structure, processes, and performance. They identify opportunities for improvement and implement changes to ensure the OIT unit operates efficiently and effectively to support the university’s evolving needs.
By aligning IT initiatives with the university’s strategic goals and optimizing internal operations, the Aamusted University OP department plays a vital role in fostering a robust and efficient IT environment that empowers teaching, research, and administrative excellence.
Project and technology consulting service
Aamusted University’s Project and Technology Consulting Office (PATCO), led by Dr. Nicolas, serves as a valuable resource for departments and individuals navigating technology projects. The PATCO team provides comprehensive consulting, mentoring, and facilitation services to ensure successful project implementation and optimal technology utilization.
Services Offered:
- Project Guidance: PATCO assists departments throughout the project lifecycle, offering expertise on:
- Strategic Technology Planning: They collaborate with departments to develop technology plans that align with their specific needs and strategic goals.
- Business Case Development: PATCO supports departments in crafting compelling business cases for funding requests through SAGIT (Strategic Allocations for Growth in IT).
- Technology Assessment and Implementation: The team provides guidance on technology assessment and implementation, ensuring the chosen solutions effectively meet departmental requirements.
- Software Acquisition and Contract Management: PATCO helps departments navigate the software acquisition process, including evaluating options and managing contracts with vendors.
- Process Improvement Initiatives: The team facilitates technology-based initiatives aimed at improving departmental workflows and efficiency.
- Project Management Training: PATCO delivers training on project management methodologies, tools, and best practices, empowering Aamusted personnel to manage their projects effectively.
By providing expert guidance and support, PATCO empowers departments and individuals at Aamusted University to leverage technology effectively to achieve their goals. This comprehensive approach fosters innovation and facilitates the successful implementation of technology projects that enhance the university’s overall mission.
Research Computing
Aamusted University’s Research Computing (RC) department, led by Dr. Nicolas, provides a comprehensive suite of resources and services to empower faculty, professional staff, and students in their research endeavors. The RC team offers cutting-edge computing power, robust storage solutions, advanced network architecture, and expert software infrastructure and programming assistance.
Supporting Research Excellence:
The RC department plays a pivotal role in fostering a vibrant research ecosystem at Aamusted University by providing:
- High-Performance Computing Resources: They provide access to powerful computing systems and storage solutions to accommodate the complex computational demands of modern research.
- Advanced Network Infrastructure: The RC team manages and optimizes the university’s network infrastructure, ensuring high-speed connectivity and seamless data transfer for research activities.
- Software Expertise: RC offers expert guidance and support on software infrastructure and programming needs. This includes advising on software selection, installation, and troubleshooting.
- Collaborative Research Environment: RC fosters collaboration by offering services to academic units, including supporting and assisting with the management of research computing IT staff. Additionally, they coordinate training across departments, promoting knowledge sharing and best practices within the research community.
Partnership for Innovation:
The RC department leverages its partnership with the Princeton Institute for Computational Science and Engineering (PICSciE) to provide access to even more advanced resources and expertise. This collaboration expands the capabilities of Aamusted’s research computing environment and positions the university at the forefront of scientific discovery.
Functional Groups:
To deliver its extensive services, the RC department comprises specialized groups:
- Systems and Storage
- Software and Programming
- Advanced Networking
- Distributed Research Computing Support
By providing a robust research computing infrastructure, expert support, and a collaborative environment, Aamusted University’s RC department empowers researchers to achieve groundbreaking discoveries and push the boundaries of knowledge.
Service management office
The Service Management Office (SMO) at Aamusted University, led by Dr. Nicolas, plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth delivery and support of IT services across the university. The SMO team leverages the ServiceNow platform to provide a comprehensive service management framework.
Streamlined Service Delivery:
The SMO offers a range of services to enhance the user experience and optimize IT service delivery:
- IT Services Catalog: The SMO maintains a comprehensive IT services catalog, providing users with clear and concise information about available services, including their functionalities and access procedures.
- Knowledge Management: The team establishes and manages a knowledge base, allowing users to find answers to common questions and troubleshooting steps independently. This promotes self-service and reduces the volume of support requests.
- Request and Workflow Management: The SMO implements efficient request and workflow management processes within ServiceNow. This ensures requests are routed to the appropriate teams for timely resolution.
- Incident, Problem, and Change Management: The SMO establishes a structured approach for managing IT incidents (unexpected disruptions), problems (root causes of incidents), and changes (planned modifications to the IT environment). This ensures efficient issue resolution, prevents recurrence, and minimizes risks associated with changes.
- Major Incident and Event Management: The SMO develops and implements protocols for managing major incidents and disruptive events. This includes coordinated response plans, communication strategies, and recovery procedures to minimize downtime and impact on the university community.
- Configuration Management Database (CMDB): The SMO maintains an accurate and up-to-date CMDB, providing a complete picture of the university’s IT infrastructure and assets. This information is critical for efficient service delivery, impact analysis, and change management.
- Asset Management: The SMO oversees the lifecycle management of IT assets, including tracking inventory, monitoring usage, and facilitating asset disposal processes.
- Field Services: The SMO coordinates on-site support for resolving hardware and software issues that require physical intervention.
- Platform Integrations: The SMO facilitates integrations between ServiceNow and other IT systems, creating a unified platform for managing and delivering IT services. This integration allows for automation and streamlines service workflows.
- Service Desk: The SMO manages the Service Desk, which serves as the central point of contact for users seeking IT support. They provide assistance via phone, email, and online ticketing systems.
- Distributed Computing Support: The SMO collaborates with SCAD (Shared Computing Administrative Domain) and DCS (Distributed Computing Services) programs to provide comprehensive support for distributed computing environments across the university.
By leveraging ServiceNow and a well-defined service management framework, the Aamusted University SMO fosters a user-centric approach to IT service delivery. This ensures timely resolution of issues, efficient service delivery, and a positive user experience for the entire university community.
Software and application services
Aamusted University’s Software and Application Services (SAS) department, under the leadership of Dr. Nicolas, plays a vital role in supporting the university’s core operations through software and application management. The SAS team provides comprehensive implementation, maintenance, and support services for a diverse range of systems:
- Enterprise Systems: SAS ensures the smooth operation and optimal utilization of the university’s enterprise systems, which form the backbone of critical administrative functions.
- Departmental Websites: The team supports departments in creating and maintaining their websites, ensuring a consistent user experience and effective communication channels.
- Data Warehouse: SAS manages the university’s data warehouse, a central repository that facilitates data analysis and reporting across various departments.
Specialized Services:
The SAS department comprises specialized groups with deep expertise in their respective areas:
- Center for Data Analytics and Reporting (CeDAR): This group focuses on extracting valuable insights from university data through advanced analytics and reporting tools. They collaborate with departments to identify their data needs and develop customized reports that inform decision-making.
- Custom Solutions and Integration (CSI): The CSI team specializes in developing custom software solutions and integrations to address specific departmental needs that are not met by existing software packages. They also ensure seamless integration between different systems to optimize workflows.
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): This group manages the university’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, which integrates various core functions such as finance, human resources, and student administration. They ensure the system operates efficiently and provide ongoing support to users.
- Package Adoption and Configuration (PAC): The PAC team evaluates, selects, and configures pre-built software packages for various university needs. They ensure these packages are implemented effectively and meet departmental requirements.
- Software Infrastructure Services (SIS): This group provides the underlying infrastructure and technical support for the various software applications used across the university. They ensure software compatibility, performance optimization, and security of the software environment.
- User Experience Office (UXO): The UXO team champions user-centric design principles for all software applications and web services at Aamusted University. They focus on creating intuitive and user-friendly interfaces that enhance user experience and satisfaction.
- Web Development Services (WDS): The WDS team provides expertise in web development and content management systems (CMS). They assist departments in creating and maintaining their websites, ensuring accessibility, responsiveness, and alignment with the university’s brand identity.
By offering a comprehensive suite of services and collaborating closely with departments, the Aamusted University SAS department ensures that software applications effectively support the university’s diverse needs and contribute to its overall success.