Problem Statement – Universities:
In the current landscape of higher education,
universities face significant challenges in their IT infrastructure, hindering
their ability to adapt to modern technological demands. A glaring issue is the
absence of a robust IT-supported infrastructure, with a notable lack of
university data centers. The prevailing reliance on legacy systems and disparate
management tools exacerbates the problem, as these systems are ill-suited for
contemporary workloads. Moreover, the existing hardware is outdated and
incompatible with modern computing requirements. The absence of disaster recovery
mechanisms further jeopardizes the integrity of critical university data.
Inefficient data storage and backup processes, coupled with manual workflows,
contribute to a suboptimal IT environment. Additionally, the lack of on-demand
resource availability hampers the agility required to meet the dynamic needs of
academic and administrative operations.
To address these challenges, the vision for the next generation of university data centers involves a comprehensive overhaul, embracing cutting-edge technologies and methodologies.The proposed model envisions a centralized hub-and-spoke architecture, fostering seamless communication and collaboration across the campus. High-security, high-performing campus area networks would ensure the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive data. Accessible from anywhere and at any time, the system would employ a single sign-on authentication mechanism, streamlining user experience and security.
One of the cornerstones of the revamped infrastructure is a high-performing research computing environment, promoting collaborative research initiatives within the university. The introduction of IT-as-a-Service (ITaaS) and Storage-as-a-Service (STaaS) ensures a more flexible and scalable IT environment. Built on an OpenStack foundation, the Infrastructure Systems Management (ISM) facilitates efficient and centralized control over the entire network. Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) becomes an integral component, ensuring data resilience and business continuity in the face of unforeseen events. The inclusion of Lab-as-a-Service (LaaS) transforms traditional research and teaching laboratories into dynamic, on-demand environments. Single sign-on (SSO) authentications enhance security across the system, simplifying user access while maintaining a high level of control.