The scenario (pre-Evolve programme):

The performance of PC clusters and applications was often poor. Logging in to PCs took a long time and there was a lack of flexibility in accessing applications, often limited to specific PC clusters. Capacity in some PC clusters was also limited, with a lack of PC availability to meet needs at certain times of the year.

What we want to achieve:

An improved experience for students in the cluster environments and more robust services for colleagues.

This project has delivered:

• Upgraded hardware in PC clusters and central teaching rooms.
• Improved technology for preparing and issuing new University-managed laptops to colleagues and postgraduate researchers.
• AppsAnywhere: A new PC cluster software application steaming service.
• Improved engagement and collaboration between IT Services and the Teaching and Learning community for colleague and student computing services.

In future the project will deliver:

• Capability for access to applications on users’ own devices.

What difference will this make?

• We have improved performance and availability of cluster PCs, with faster login times and readily accessible applications required by colleagues and students to perform their work, resulting in a reduction in lost teaching hours and improvement in student satisfaction.
• An increasing number of applications can be streamed from the cloud providing greater flexibility for students.
• In future, staff and students will be able to work on different device types in any location and access the applications they need.

The scenario (pre-Evolve programme):

Critical applications are reaching end-of-life and will soon be unsupported – risking outages, data loss and limits to functional change we can make.

What we want to achieve

A set of documented application strategies and roadmaps to guide investment decisions and highlight technical debt and risk.

A robust software asset management process for improved tracking of our software to ensure it is cost effective, legal and secure.

This project has delivered:

• A documented understanding of our current applications landscape.
• A set of domain-level application strategies and roadmaps, with suggestions for a ‘future state’.

In future the project will deliver:

• A set of data models to define how key data is organised, stored and managed.
• A new software asset management (SAM) capability for managing the software lifecycle across the University.

What difference will this make?

• Clear alignment between application strategies and business objectives for improved decision making and optimised IT investments.
• Easy, secure, compliant and cost-effective access to the right software to improve learning, research and productivity.

The scenario (pre-Evolve programme):

We don’t have end-to-end test environments that mirror our live systems, so what we test isn’t the same as real-life services, risking major service outages and failed implementation.

What we want to achieve

• On demand, highly available, reusable, stable and managed environments utilising industry standard tools.

This project has delivered:

• A new cloud computing platform (Azure) that runs applications in a ‘cyber essentials’ certified environment.
• Secure (Privileged Access) for Microsoft devices to manage sensitive tasks.

In future the project will deliver:

• Automated build for environments for our core systems.
• On-demand environments available through the IT service catalogue.
• Robust guidelines, standards and governance.
• Data obfuscation (masking) capability.
• Secure (Privileged Access) for non-Microsoft devices to manage sensitive tasks.

What difference will this make?

• Contribution to cyber essential compliance.
• Reduced risk of credential theft, reduction in attack surface and more secure environment.
• Reduced operational errors and overheads allowing for faster and more flexible deployments.
• Smoother rollout of new features, minimising disruption to staff and colleagues.
• Improved data security, reduced risk of breaches, compliance with privacy regulations, and protection of sensitive information in testing.

The scenario (pre-Evolve programme):

The way we secure access to systems and data is overly complex and out of date. The reliance on heritage technology, unclear policies, and inefficient processes creates operational inefficiencies.

What we want to achieve

A resilient, scalable, globally accessible IdAM platform that provisions users with the appropriate level of access.

This project has delivered:

• Changes to our Microsoft software and services to improve security.
• A new Privileged Asset Management (PAM) system (NetIQ PAM).

In future the project will deliver:

• New IdAM systems, architecture, policy and standards.
• Integration of new IdAM services with our University systems.
• Modernisation of people record matching and creation and management of records.
• Set up of identity card data (including photographs) to both existing physical and future new virtual identity card systems.

What difference will this make?

• Improved collaboration and user experience.
• Reduced security risks and access issues.
• Increased compliance and reputation.
• Better risk awareness.

The scenario (pre-Evolve programme):

Our infrastructure (computing, storage, connectivity) needs greater capacity and/or renewal. We are at risk of hardware failure, service outages and capacity limits.

What we want to achieve

An improved IT Infrastructure management environment that supports a 24/7 university.

This project has delivered:

• The implementation of a 24/7 IT Operations Centre (IToC) that monitors and responds to system alerts in the PC clusters and our key environments.
• A hosting strategy (cloud and on-premise) to help colleagues identify the best platform to host new technologies.

In future the project will deliver:

• Expansion of our IT Operations centre monitoring to include devices that connect to our network (e.g. laptops, servers).
• Implementation of a solution to back up, protect and recover critical data across Microsoft 365 services. 

What difference will this make?

• Ability to pinpoint issues with our IT infrastructure before they arise resulting in fewer outages and incidents.
• A 24/7 IT health check service staffed by a team of experts to ensure service continuity.
• Stable and highly available IT services.
• Safeguarding against data loss, accidental deletion and cyber threats.

The scenario (pre-Evolve programme):

Our systems are integrated using complex, end-of-life platforms and are poorly understood. Our change portfolio is at risk due to a lack of systems knowledge.

What we want to achieve

A new, simplified, scalable integrations platform, driving best practices and standardisation and offering “Integration as a Service” to the University.

This project has delivered:

• An integration catalogue showing how all our systems and data connect.
• A dedicated Integrations Centre of Excellence focusing on governance, architecture and strategy to enable future programmes of work.
• Introduction of a new integrations platform (Boomi).

In future the project will deliver:

• The transition of heritage integrations to the new Boomi platform.

What difference will this make?

• We will have seamless applications working together to better support our core business processes and enhance collaboration between departments.
• Provides the foundations for future transformation and digital capability.
• Ability to respond quickly and integrate with new technologies.
• The user experience will improve with fewer integration issues and manual interventions therefore reducing business impact.