STRATEGIC IT ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD
MINUTES
Friday, August 28, 2015
STARK LIBRARY
- Network Architecture Changes – Endorse (William Green)
William Green sought endorsement for the new architecture and funding model to support increased compliance and security demands, while managing complexity, capability and cost. Primary goal is to transition from one general network to virtual campus network layers, some of which have added security. There will be new product lines to support these new layers and implement shared infrastructure for small sites to reduce costs. Small sites will move to rental model for building routers. Costs will be 20% less for small sites and save the University $1 million over six years, made possible by new product lines. Additional layers will require recurring funding commitments from its users. Funding by UT System ($500,000) helped pay for the capability and supporting firewalls.
Q. Will this allow all HIPPA related data be in one layer? What about working with Seton and other hospitals?
A. This is the first step towards isolating HIPPA data on one layer across campus. This will possibly help with sharing data with Seton, and we have had conversations with the Chief Information Officer at Seton.
Q. How do you define “small sites?”
A. Small sites have approximately 150 computing devices and 500 wireless devices based on the network statistics that are reported.
Q. Does this take into account the number of students that go in and out of buildings?
A. Yes, it does. We base the estimates on the maximum number of devices registered in a building over time.
Endorsed.
- Building Access Control System (BACS) Operations Manual – Endorse (William Green)
William Green sought endorsement for the BACS Operations Manual. Campus needs an operations manual that codifies how BACS and security systems are managed and supported by the University. Bob Harkins, Associate Vice President for Campus Safety and Security, chaired the committee, resulting in a 30 page document on how to manage building security. Governance will come from Business Services Committee and Campus Safety and Security committee. There will be a policy and appeals committee formed. Units in general will pay for requested internal BACS support. All external doors, non-installation, are provided as a Common Good. False alarm fees will be instituted to ensure proper usage.
Q. What is the timeline for BACS removal?
A. Eighteen months to two years.
Q. Are the budget implications for units known now? (Some units are going to be disproportionately affected by the higher need for security, based on the type of research conducted. SITAB is interested to see these costs for larger units.)
A. Yes and no. We started billing last fiscal year based on unit recommendations on removal, but will not have the final cost until units confirm what will be removed. All removal recommendations were reviewed by the UT Police Department and Environmental Health and Safety. We will come back to SITAB with the costs when we have the information.
Sample buildings from 4/15/2014 SITAB minutes:
Q. Are panic buttons included?
A. Yes, they are.
Q. Will Campus Carry have any effects on panic button deployment?
A. Bob Harkins is addressing this. We do not yet know the effect that it will have on campus. There are a number of options including mobile phone software based panic buttons, so everyone on campus could have one.
Q. Where is this manual available?
A. There is a link online:
Endorsed.
- Cyber Infrastructure Funding – Update (William Green)
William Green spoke on the UT System Board of Regents meeting that approved funding for cyber infrastructure projects directly supporting UT Austin and its IT governance initiatives. The Texas Advanced Computing Center received $14 million for research computing, OTS and ITS received $7 million for increasing the state-wide network to 100G and connecting campus at 100G, and ITS received $3 million for the data center to enhance facilities in order to offer disaster recovery to other UT System campuses.
- Zero-Based Budget – Update (Brad Englert)
Brad Englert gave an update on the changes in the past five fiscal years for Information Technology Services (ITS) in IT services in the face of a constant budget. ITS added 44 new services and retired more than 30 services. Additions include Canvas, Qualtrics, Box, and UT Mail. We retired obsolete IT services such as the ITS printer repair, the 18-year old email services, and many others. Link can be found here.
- 2015-2016 Longhorn Innovation Fund for Technology (LIFT) – Update (Brad Englert, Christy Tran)
Brad Englert explained the origin of LIFT. Each fiscal year, the Research & Educational Technology committee recommends about $500,000 funding for IT innovation on campus. Christy Tran presented this year’s winners. Winning grants are listed on the meeting handout and on the LIFT website.
Involvement includes Pharmacy, Nursing, School of Journalism, TACC, Tami and Lang Stuttering Institute, and others.
SITAB Direction: Have more student engagement as a factor in the selection process, and provide wider communication on the results of the grants.