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Enabling Technology

The Enabling Technology Programme was established in summer 2013 as a 3 year programme to deliver an improved IT organisation, infrastructure, service delivery methodology and business process model to ensure IT within the university is fit for purpose and fully aligned with the new operating model being developed. The projects within the programme completed on 31st July 2016 (with the exception of Phase 2 User Access Management).

The programme has achieved a number of high level strategic objectives, which include:

  • Ensuring that IT has become an enabler of change and is used as a tool to facilitate and support business change.
  • The delivery of an advanced IT capacity to enable it to support the business meet its strategic and operational objectives.
  • An increasing number of IT services available anytime and anywhere and on a wide range of devices to support all operational processes.
  • More standardised IT services designed for the many (rather than the few) to ensure best value, supportable services for all.
  • The ability for IT to see significantly more what technology and services are being used in schools and departments and are able to provide personalised and targeted support.
  • An increased capacity and capability (with a reduced number of Single Points of Failure) to perform critical underpinning activities to maintain continuity of service delivery.
  • Improved service support now providing more tailored support routes to the full range of users to increase end user satisfaction and improve the efficiency of delivery.

More specifically, through the programme's projects, it has delivered:

  • Re-organisation and restructure of the IT department, centralising core roles
  • Removal of all Windows XP devices from the network
  • A remote support tool to allow the Service Desk (and other support teams) to see your screen when you need help
  • Improved all the audio-visual equipment in the centrally bookable teaching rooms
  • Improved the Core Stability of our data network to ensure availability of fire alarm, intruder alarm, CCTV and door access signalling between University buildings and the Security Control systems
  • Remote Access to Employee Self Service - so that all staff can access ESS offsite and onsite via wireless while maintaining data security - anytime, anywhere
  • Updated Remote Access software to allow all to access core systems from off campus to additional systems (Agresso, SITS and Trent), including access for administration users
  • Renegotiated hardware procurement contracts for a better deal and updated the business processes to ensure a "install to desk" service
  • An Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) that allows real time integration between business systems. E.g. library cards will now work on the same day as ID cards are issued. Further exploitation of the ESB has now been undertaken to prepare it for use with key student data
  • Completed planning for Single Sign On. We now know which building blocks need to be in place when we have full resources available for a Single Sign On implementation (which will be after the ET Programme).
  • Full heath checks on all our core business systems, making improvements where necessary
  • The Managed Print Service (working with Procurement)
  • Production of an automated Hardware Inventory - through implementation of cross campus software and improved business processes
  • Exploitation of the Hardware Inventory software to support the E&F project to reduce the University's carbon footprint, but automatically powering down PCs not in use
  • Improved Licence and Software Management thought the implementation of management software and with assistance from key suppliers
  • Replacement of all Edge Network Switches (in main campus buildings) to ensure network availability and resilience
  • A Research Data platform, from which a Research Data service can be developed
  • A complete review of our security policies and a refresh of those needing it
  • Creation and implementation of new IT Management Processes to document and improve the running of all services, including the launch of our new Service Catalogue
  • Implementation of a "Software Jukebox" to provide a one stop shop for applications (coming in the new autumn term)
  • A Mobile Device Support solution allowing all the university owned mobile devices (phone and tablets) to be encrypted, secure and more easily supported
  • Completion of the provision of additional Network Resilience in the core data network across campus
  • Further work to improve the performance of our priority core business systems, by taking a strategic approach to environment management, boosting environment provision where necessary
  • An improved Disaster Recovery plan
  • Training for staff on improved supplier management
  • Improved security of our web facing services, including penetration testing
  • An updated User Account Management solution (for Staff and Externals) - using new software and the Enterprise Service Bus to ensure that, new accounts are created efficiency with the correct permissions and giving managers control over the management of the accounts (Phase 2 - for Students - will be delivered very early in 2017)

Final list of COMPLETED PROJECTS:

  • Windows XP
  • Remote Support - Desktop
  • Remote Support - Audio Visual
  • Core Stability
  • Hardware Procurement
  • Enterprise Service Bus Implementation
  • Single Sign On - Planning For The Future
  • News and Events: Managed Print Services
  • Hardware Inventory
  • Hardware Inventory Exploitation - helping reduce our carbon footprint
  • Licence and Software Management
  • Software Application Management (Application Jukebox)
  • Network Switches
  • Network Resilience
  • Core Systems Performance Improvement
  • Disaster Recovery
  • Security Improvements
  • (Employee Self Service and Others)
  • Security Policy Refresh
  • Enterprise Service Bus - Further Exploitation
  • IT Management Processes inc. the Service Catalogue
  • Research Data Management
  • Enterprise Architecture Implementation
  • Identity and Access Management - User Account Management (staff and externals)