TECHNOLOGY
Narrowing your specialties A key change that has come with this technology transformation is that it is allowing Dalhousie University’s IT department to better focus its efforts. “IT is a large cost center, so we’re maturing in higher ed to be really clear about what it is we do and don’t do,” says Fischer, explaining that the school is cutting down on extraneous IT offerings like computer training and sales— both readily available elsewhere—to focus in on tackling its biggest challenges to deliver the features from which its faculty and students can benefit the most. “We focus more on high value activities such as data management and analytics—helping with academics in the classroom, research support. We’re spending less time doing hardware setups and configurations and upgrades,” says Fischer, noting that this has also helped Dalhousie University become a greener and more efficient institution. “IT infrastructure is very power intensive. At a time when everyone’s looking at getting points for green policies and sustainability, hosting your own data center is not exactly where you want to be.” By working with partners like Microsoft and Amazon Web Services, Dalhousie’s IT department is able to provide the best of its own services paired with the best that technology has to offer.
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