Technology Initiatives at a Glance
James Tagliareni Vice President Information Technology / CIO
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
Transforming Piedmont Community College Through Technology
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, technology is more than just a tool—it is a driving force behind innovation, efficiency, and security in higher education. At Piedmont Community College (PCC), the IT Division is at the forefront of this transformation, ensuring that students, faculty, and staff have access to cutting-edge technology solutions that enhance learning, streamline operations, and strengthen cybersecurity.
The Technology at a Glance publication serves as a comprehensive snapshot of the IT Division’s strategic projects, highlighting both completed initiatives and ongoing advancements that support PCC’s mission. These initiatives align with the college’s long-term goals of digital transformation, student success, and institutional resilience. From modernizing infrastructure and enhancing security protocols to improving user experiences and expanding digital accessibility, each project represents a step forward in our commitment to innovation.
Commitment to Excellence in IT Services
The IT Division remains committed to delivering secure, scalable, and innovative technology solutions that empower students and faculty alike. Our efforts in cloud adoption, cybersecurity, and digital transformation ensure that PCC remains at the cutting edge of higher education technology. By investing in modern IT solutions, the college is future-proofing its infrastructure, enhancing data security, and creating a more efficient and engaging learning environment.
The following pages provide a closer look at the major IT initiatives—both completed and in progress—that are shaping the future of technology at PCC. As we move forward, our mission remains clear: to leverage technology as a strategic advantage, support the college’s educational mission, and ensure a seamless, secure, and innovative digital experience for all.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
Strategic IT Roadmap: The Path to a Digital Future
Over the past year, the IT Division has successfully completed numerous high-impact projects, including the deployment of CrowdStrike cybersecurity solutions, the enhancement of wireless connectivity, and the migration to modern financial reporting tools like Clarity. The college has also expanded disaster recovery efforts with Starlink satellite systems, ensuring continuity of operations in times of crisis.
Our 2025 IT Roadmap outlines a bold vision for the future, with key priorities such as:
• Cybersecurity & Resilience – Strengthening PCC’s security posture with next-generation firewalls, privileged access management (PAM), and advanced monitoring solutions, while expanding disaster recovery capabilities with Starlink satellite systems.
• Digital Access & Infrastructure – Enhancing the student experience through Instant Enrollment, mobile-friendly services, and cloud-based solutions, while modernizing campus infrastructure with network switch refreshes, Windows 11 migrations, and cloud storage expansion.
• Academic & Collaboration Tools – Advancing learning with AI-driven initiatives, virtual desktops (VDI), and digital learning tools, while improving campus-wide communication with an integrated intranet, VoIP upgrades, and enhanced remote access solutions.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
VMware Upgrade: Enhanced Virtualization Performance
Expected Completion Date: Fall 2025
As virtualization technology continues to drive efficiencies in IT environments, Piedmont Community College is upgrading its VMware Core and Horizon platform to ensure optimal performance, security, and scalability. Virtual infrastructure plays a vital role in academic computing, administrative operations, and remote access, enabling multiple workloads to run on shared physical resources. The upgrade enhances virtual machine management, disaster recovery capabilities, and network flexibility, ensuring that students, faculty, and staff experience seamless access to digital tools. With an increasing shift toward hybrid learning and cloud-hosted applications, VMware’s advanced features allow for greater resource optimization, faster provisioning, and improved cybersecurity defenses. This initiative is a strategic investment in future-proofing IT operations.
Securing the Cloud: Firewall Deployment in AWS
Expected Comple-on Date: Fall 2025
With cybersecurity threats evolving rapidly, educational institutions must strengthen cloud security architectures to safeguard mission-critical systems. Piedmont Community College is enhancing network protection by deploying Palo Alto Firewalls within its AWS infrastructure, reinforcing intrusion detection, secure traffic flow, and real-time threat mitigation. By integrating AI-driven firewall analytics, the institution can proactively detect and block malicious activity, ensuring compliance with higher education cybersecurity standards. The deployment also enhances load balancing for cloud applications, providing optimized access without compromising data integrity or speed. As cloud adoption grows in academia, institutions investing in next-gen security frameworks are better equipped to handle ransomware threats, unauthorized access, and digital forensics investigations.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
Privileged Access Management: PCC Implements NextGen Cybersecurity Controls
Expected Comple-on Date: COMPLETED
The ability to control and monitor privileged access is crucial for maintaining a secure IT environment. To address this need, the institution has successfully deployed a Privileged Access Management (PAM) system, ensuring that only authorized personnel can access critical resources. By leveraging AutoElevate, IT administrators can now manage user permissions dynamically, granting temporary elevated access when necessary while keeping overall security risks to a minimum. This approach significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, data breaches, and system misuse. While the deployment is complete, the IT team is fine-tuning the system to optimize performance and user experience. The successful implementation of PAM marks a major milestone in strengthening the institution’s cybersecurity framework, enhancing both security and operational efficiency.
Revolutionizing Student Enrollment: Instant Enrollment Enhances Accessibility and Efficiency
Expected
Enrollment processes in higher education are undergoing a technological transformation, and Piedmont Community College is leading the charge by transitioning to Ellucian Instant Enrollment. This student registration system is engineered for efficiency, automation, and self-service accessibility. By eliminating cumbersome manual workflows, the system enhances real-time student data management, reduces administrative bottlenecks, and accelerates the onboarding process. Students can register and process payments in a single, streamlined interface, significantly improving the user experience. With increased automation, staff can focus on student engagement and academic success rather than paperwork. As digital transformation reshapes higher education, investing in intelligent, cloud-based enrollment solutions positions Piedmont at the forefront of student-centric modernization.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
Fortifying Data Integrity: Cutting-Edge Backup Solution
Expected Completion Date: COMPLETED
In today’s digital landscape, data resilience is a top priority for higher education institutions. Piedmont Community College is reinforcing its cybersecurity and disaster recovery strategy by deploying a next-generation backup server. The IT team is conducting rigorous testing to ensure fast, automated backups and seamless recovery in the event of a data loss incident. This investment not only safeguards student records, faculty resources, and administrative data, but also strengthens compliance with federal data protection regulations. A strong backup infrastructure minimizes operational downtime, mitigates ransomware threats, and enhances business continuity. As colleges embrace cloud and hybrid storage solutions, maintaining on-premise redundancy remains critical. Piedmont’s proactive approach ensures that critical systems remain functional, supporting an uninterrupted digital learning environment.
Ensuring Connectivity in Crisis:
Starlink Boosts PCC’s
Disaster Recovery Readiness
Expected Comple-on Date: Fall 2025
Reliable internet connectivity is the backbone of modern education, and PCC is future-proofing its disaster recovery strategy by integrating Starlink satellite technology. Traditional internet service providers can suffer from network congestion, fiber cuts, or outages, disrupting academic and administrative operations. Starlink’s low-latency, high-speed broadband provides a redundant backup solution, ensuring that essential services—including online learning platforms, cloud applications, and campus security systems—remain operational. By diversifying network infrastructure with satellite internet failover, Piedmont eliminates a single point of failure and enhances business continuity. As educational institutions seek resilient networking solutions, satellite-based redundancy emerges as a key strategy in maintaining uninterrupted digital access.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
PCC’s Network Evolution: Modernizing Connectivity for a Digital-First Campus
Expected Comple-on Date: Fall 2025
In an era where network speed and security drive institutional efficiency, Piedmont Community College is upgrading its IT infrastructure with a switch refresh initiative. This modernization effort replaces aging edge switches with high-performance, scalable networking hardware, ensuring low-latency, high-bandwidth connectivity across campuses. Engineers are integrating 802.1x authentication, RADIUS security, and SNMP monitoring to fortify network protection while developing automation scripts for faster deployment. The upgrade not only enhances data transfer rates and network stability, but also supports AI-driven traffic optimization for mission-critical applications. As higher education moves toward hybrid learning and cloud-based administration, this infrastructure overhaul ensures that Piedmont’s network remains agile, resilient, and future-ready.
Strengthening Data Resilience: New Backup Server
Expected Comple-on
Date: Fall 2025
Business continuity in higher education requires robust failover strategies, and PCC is reinforcing its IT resilience by establishing a dedicated backup server. This initiative leverages legacy servers to create a real-time replication system, ensuring that critical data remains accessible even in the event of primary system failures. A decentralized backup approach also enhances cybersecurity posture by reducing exposure to single-point vulnerabilities. As educational institutions handle increasing volumes of sensitive student and faculty data, multi-site redundancy is becoming an industry best practice in safeguarding academic and administrative IT systems.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
Course Evaluations: Watermark Enhances Faculty Feedback and Student Engagement
Expected Comple-on
Piedmont Community College has successfully implemented Watermark, an advanced course evaluation platform that enhances faculty feedback collection and student engagement. The new system streamlines the evaluation process by automating survey distribution, providing realtime reporting, and integrating directly with learning management systems. This initiative ensures that faculty receive valuable insights to improve course design while maintaining student anonymity for honest feedback.
Fortifying Cybersecurity: CrowdStrike Enhances Threat Protection at PCC
Expected
PCC has enhanced its cybersecurity posture by deploying CrowdStrike, a next-generation cloudbased security solution. This AI-powered threat detection system continuously monitors network activity, identifying and neutralizing malware, ransomware, and other cyber threats in real time. By leveraging advanced analytics and machine learning, CrowdStrike provides proactive protection, minimizing vulnerabilities and ensuring round-the-clock digital security.
This implementation strengthens PCC’s ability to safeguard sensitive data and maintain a secure, resilient IT environment for students, faculty, and staff. By integrating CrowdStrike into its cybersecurity framework, PCC is reinforcing its digital defenses against evolving threats, ensuring a safer and more reliable online experience across campus.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
Enhancing Financial Transparency: Clarity Brings DataDriven Budget Management
Expected Comple-on Date: COMPLETED
The Finance department, in collaboration with IT, has implemented Clarity, a cuttingedge financial reporting tool that simplifies budget management and enhances datadriven decision-making. This platform allows administrators to access real-time financial analytics, automate report generation, and improve transparency in budget allocations. The transition to Clarity replaces outdated reporting methods with an intuitive, user-friendly interface, enabling more efficient financial oversight.
Modernizing IT Infrastructure: Server Upgrades
Expected Comple-on Date: COMPLETED
Piedmont Community College is embracing the future of technology by completing a major migration from the aging Windows Server 2012R2 to the latest, more robust server operating system. This upgrade is a game-changer, delivering significant improvements in performance, security, and compatibility with modern applications. With this transition, the IT division has eliminated outdated infrastructure operating systems that posed operational and security risks, replacing it with a more scalable, efficient, and resilient system. The new server operating environment enhances data management, allowing for faster processing, streamlined workflows, and improved system reliability. Strengthened cybersecurity protocols offer greater protection against cyber threats, ensuring that sensitive institutional and student data remains secure. Additionally, increased automation and integration capabilities allow IT staff to allocate resources more effectively, focusing on innovation rather than maintaining aging hardware. By enhancing our infrastructure, Piedmont Community College continues to demonstrate its commitment to technological excellence, ensuring that faculty, staff, and students benefit from a seamless, secure, and high-performing digital experience.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
Expanding Connectivity: Enhanced Outdoor WiFi for a More Mobile Campus
Expected Comple-on Date: COMPLETED
Piedmont Community College is taking campus connectivity to the next level by expanding its WiFi network to cover courtyard areas, ensuring students and faculty can stay connected beyond traditional indoor spaces. This initiative transforms the way the campus community engages with technology, allowing for greater mobility and flexibility. Whether students are studying between classes, collaborating on group projects, or participating in online discussions, they now have reliable, high-speed internet access at their fingertips. The upgraded wireless infrastructure not only increases bandwidth and coverage but also enhances security and network stability, providing a seamless experience for users. By extending WiFi to outdoor learning environments, the college reinforces its commitment to digital accessibility and modern campus life, ensuring that connectivity is never a barrier to learning and collaboration.
Public Captive Portal: Streamlining Guest Access
Expected Comple-on Date: Fall 2025
Colleges must balance network accessibility with strong cybersecurity measures, and PCC is achieving this through the deployment of a Public Captive Portal. Designed to provide secure, controlled internet access for campus visitors, test-takers, and temporary users, the system ensures that guest connections remain isolated from institutional networks. The portal integrates authentication protocols and network filtering, preventing unauthorized access while maintaining a seamless user experience. By enforcing session time limits and usage tracking, the college protects against bandwidth abuse and potential security breaches. This initiative enhances both convenience and IT security, ensuring that students and staff maintain priority access while providing an efficient onboarding process for guest users.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
TEC Classroom Image Refresh: Optimizing Learning Environments
Expected Completion Date: Fall 2025
To maximize digital learning efficiency, Piedmont Community College is refreshing TEC classroom workstation images, enhancing login speed, Single Sign-On (SSO) authentication, and overall system responsiveness. The initiative streamlines user access to academic software, cloud storage, and network resources, reducing downtime between sessions. Faster login times improve the classroom experience, allowing faculty and students to engage with coursework without technical delays. IT teams are also optimizing resource allocation to prevent system slowdowns during peak usage. This effort reflects a growing trend in education: leveraging smart IT configurations to create seamless, efficient, and engaging learning environments powered by cutting-edge computing infrastructure.
Transforming the South Campus Board Room
Expected Completion Date: COMPLETED
The South Campus Board Room is undergoing a major technological transformation to enhance collaboration, communication, and decision-making processes. This project focuses on deploying state-of-the-art audiovisual systems, modern conferencing tools, and seamless connectivity solutions. The goal is to create a sophisticated, user-friendly environment where leadership meetings can be conducted with greater efficiency and clarity. High-resolution displays, advanced microphones, and integrated virtual meeting platforms will allow for better engagement among participants, whether they are in the room or joining remotely. The initiative aligns with the institution’s broader commitment to digital modernization, ensuring that leadership has access to the best technological tools available. As this project progresses, the South Campus Board Room will set a new standard for high-tech meeting spaces, reinforcing the college’s dedication to innovation and operational excellence.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
Revitalizing Campus Computing: FY24-25 PC Refresh
Expected Completion Date: COMPLETED
Technology evolves rapidly, and ensuring that faculty, staff, and students have access to up-to-date computing resources is a priority for the institution. The ongoing PC Refresh project aims to replace aging computers across campus with highperformance machines, significantly improving efficiency and reliability. Outdated systems can slow down workflows, limit access to critical applications, and cause unnecessary disruptions. By upgrading these devices, the institution ensures a smoother, more productive experience for all users. The initiative is being carefully planned to minimize downtime during the transition, with IT teams working methodically to deploy new computers in a structured manner. This refresh not only enhances performance but also contributes to better security and energy efficiency. With this investment in modern computing, the institution is futureproofing its technology infrastructure and optimizing its digital learning environment.
Migrating to Windows 11: A Step Toward Future-Ready Computing
As technology continues to evolve, staying ahead of operating system updates is crucial for security, functionality, and overall efficiency. The upcoming Windows 11 migration is a strategic move to modernize campus computers and ensure they are equipped with the latest features. The IT team is developing a comprehensive plan to transition all PCs smoothly, ensuring minimal disruption for users. This upgrade will enhance compatibility with newer software programs, streamline workflows, and offer users a more stable computing environment. By proactively adopting Windows 11, the institution is reinforcing its commitment to maintaining a secure and high-performing digital ecosystem, ultimately benefiting students, faculty, and staff.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
Streamlining Digital Infrastructure: Redirect Removal
Expected Comple-on Date: Fall 2025
Digital clutter can create inefficiencies, and the redirect removal project is an essential step in optimizing the institution’s IT infrastructure. Over time, unnecessary system redirects can slow down network performance, cause confusion for users, and introduce security risks. This initiative focuses on systematically identifying and eliminating outdated redirects, ensuring smoother navigation and improved system efficiency. The IT team is carefully reviewing pathways to determine which redirects are obsolete, implementing changes that will result in faster access to resources and a more responsive digital experience. By decluttering the network and improving backend infrastructure, this project will enhance overall system reliability and usability. As part of a larger effort to modernize IT operations, redirect removal is a key step in optimizing the college’s digital ecosystem for long-term sustainability.
Building a Testing Lab for Student Success
Expected Comple-on Date: COMPLETED
Students rely on reliable testing environments for certifications, assessments, and standardized exams. The development of a new testing lab in Room H218 is designed to provide a dedicated space equipped with the latest technology to support academic success. This initiative includes installing advanced network infrastructure, such as patch panels and switch stacks, ensuring seamless connectivity for all testing workstations. The lab will be furnished with workstations, offering students an optimal environment for focused test-taking. Additionally, the relocation of computers from an older lab will maximize resource utilization, allowing for an improved testing experience. This project reflects the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, providing students with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly digital learning environment.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
Expanding and Enhancing CHATT’s TEC Rooms for Modern Learning
Expected Completion Date: COMPLETED
To meet the growing demand for advanced learning environments, the CHATT campus is in the process of creating three modified TEC rooms designed to support interactive and technology-driven instruction. These rooms will be equipped with cutting-edge teaching tools, ensuring faculty members can deliver engaging lessons in a variety of formats. The integration of high-definition touch montitors and video conferencing capabilities will enable a seamless hybrid learning experience, catering to both in-person and remote students. The new TEC rooms will also feature enhanced connectivity options, providing stable internet access and user-friendly interfaces to streamline the teaching process. By investing in these technologyenhanced classrooms, CHATT is demonstrating its commitment to providing highquality education in a digital age, ensuring that students and instructors have access to the latest educational innovations.
Modernizing Communication: New VoIP Phone System
Expected Comple-on Date: Fall 2025
As technology continues to evolve, the need for a reliable and efficient communication system becomes more critical. The institution is taking a major step forward by replacing its aging phone system with a modern, high-performance alternative. The current system has served its purpose but is now reaching the end of its life, requiring an upgrade that will enhance reliability, security, and functionality. The new system will provide better call clarity, improved integration with digital platforms, and advanced features that streamline internal and external communication. Faculty, staff, and students will benefit from a seamless experience, reducing disruptions and increasing efficiency. By investing in this upgrade, the institution is ensuring that communication remains smooth, effective, and future-ready for years to come.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
Strengthening Security: Password Synchronization
Expected Comple-on Date: COMPLETED
Managing passwords across multiple platforms can be a frustrating challenge, but the institution is working on a major improvement to make authentication more secure and user-friendly. By implementing a synchronization system for Active Directory and Azure, the IT team is streamlining password management while enhancing security. This initiative will allow users to update their credentials across multiple systems simultaneously, reducing the risk of forgotten passwords and security vulnerabilities. The seamless integration between on-premises and cloud environments ensures a consistent and reliable authentication process. This project not only strengthens digital security but also simplifies access for faculty, staff, and students, creating a more efficient user experience. As cyber threats continue to evolve, this enhancement is a necessary step in safeguarding the institution’s digital assets.
Enhancing Cybersecurity: Palo Alto Firewall Upgrades
Expected Comple-on Date: Spring 2026
In today’s digital landscape, cybersecurity remains a top priority for educational institutions. To strengthen network defenses, the IT team is implementing a major upgrade to its Palo Alto firewall infrastructure. This initiative is designed to enhance security measures, protect sensitive data, and improve threat detection capabilities. The firewall upgrade will introduce redundancy, ensuring that network security remains intact even in the event of hardware failure or cyberattacks. With advanced filtering capabilities, the system will block unauthorized access while allowing legitimate traffic to flow efficiently. Supported by a security grant, this upgrade reflects the institution’s ongoing commitment to protecting its digital environment. As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, investing in cutting-edge firewall technology is an essential step in safeguarding network integrity. The project will be fully funded utilizing grant funds.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
Ensuring Network Security: Annual Penetration Testing
Expected Comple-on Date: COMPLETED
Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, making it essential for institutions to conduct regular assessments of their network defenses. The annual penetration testing initiative is designed to identify vulnerabilities within the institution’s IT infrastructure and provide actionable insights to strengthen security. This comprehensive evaluation includes both internal and external testing, simulating real-world attack scenarios to uncover potential weaknesses. By proactively addressing security risks, the IT team can implement necessary safeguards before threats become actual breaches. This process not only enhances data protection but also ensures compliance with industry best practices and regulatory standards. The commitment to annual penetration testing highlights the institution’s dedication to maintaining a secure and resilient digital environment, ultimately protecting sensitive information and preserving trust in its IT systems.
Stronger, Faster Internet at BDEC: New Provider, Better Experience
Expected Comple-on Date: COMPLETED
Reliable and cost-effective internet service is critical for academic and administrative operations, and BDEC is making strategic improvements to enhance its connectivity. The migration to a new internet provider is expected to improve service quality while reducing costs by 83%, making it a win-win for the institution. By upgrading to a more efficient network infrastructure, faculty, staff, and students will experience faster and more reliable internet access, supporting online learning and administrative functions. Additionally, the cost savings associated with this transition can be reinvested into other technology initiatives that benefit the institution. The IT team is managing the transition carefully to ensure a smooth migration with minimal disruption. Once completed, BDEC will have a stronger, more cost-effective internet solution tailored to its evolving needs.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
Enhancing Security: Self-Service 2FA and SSO
Expected
Piedmont Community College has bolstered security and improved user access by integrating two-factor authentication (2FA) and single sign-on (SSO) into Colleague Self-Service. These upgrades ensure that students and faculty experience a seamless yet highly secure login process. SSO eliminates the need to repeatedly enter credentials, providing easy access to multiple campus systems with a single authentication. Meanwhile, 2FA adds a critical layer of security by requiring an additional verification step, reducing the risk of unauthorized access. These enhancements not only protect sensitive academic and financial information but also streamline login processes, reducing frustration for users. With cyber threats constantly evolving, the college remains committed to proactive security measures that safeguard institutional data while maintaining efficiency. The implementation of 2FA and SSO demonstrates the institution’s dedication to leveraging modern technology to enhance security and accessibility, ensuring students and staff can safely and conveniently manage academic and administrative tasks.
Automating Student Records: First-Term Tracking in Colleague
Expected
PCC has modernized student record management by automating first-term tracking within Colleague, significantly improving the accuracy and accessibility of enrollment data. Previously, staff had to manually search records to determine when a student first enrolled, an inefficient process prone to inconsistencies. Now, with an automated computed column added to the STUDENT file, this information is instantly available, saving time and ensuring reliability in academic advising, financial aid processing, and institutional reporting. Accurate first-term data is essential for analyzing enrollment trends, improving student retention, and refining support services. With this enhancement, faculty and staff can provide better guidance to students while the institution gains valuable insights into student success patterns.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
NeoGov Streamlines Employee Onboarding at PCC
Expected Comple-on
Date: COMPLETED
We have modernized our employee onboarding process by implementing NeoGov, a system designed to enhance efficiency and compliance while providing a seamless transition for new hires. Replacing the previous system, NeoGov streamlines the hiring experience by digitizing paperwork, automating workflows, and centralizing onboarding resources. New employees can complete forms, receive training materials, and access HR-related information in a single, user-friendly platform, reducing administrative delays and ensuring a smoother start. This implementation not only improves communication between HR and new staff but also enhances overall operational efficiency by eliminating outdated manual processes. The college’s investment in NeoGov reflects a broader commitment to leveraging technology for workforce development, ensuring that every new hire receives the support and resources needed to succeed from day one.
Campus SharePoint Intranet: A Centralized Hub for Collaboration
Expected Comple-on
Date: COMPLETED
The IT team has successfully implemented a SharePoint intranet, transforming internal communication and document management by providing faculty and staff with a centralized digital workspace. One of the key achievements of this project was the synchronization of files, ensuring seamless access to critical documents while improving overall workflow efficiency. The new intranet consolidates important policies, announcements, and departmental resources, replacing outdated methods of communication and file sharing. By offering a more organized and intuitive platform, SharePoint enhances collaboration, allowing employees to work more effectively across departments. This initiative reflects the college’s commitment to modernizing administrative processes and fostering a more connected and efficient workplace.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
Watermark CRM Integration: Improving Student Engagement
Expected Comple-on Date: COMPLETED
PCC continues to enhance student engagement by integrating Watermark CRM, a system designed to streamline communication, improve retention efforts, and centralize student data. The project has reached a major milestone, with data imports successfully completed and work now shifting toward Moodle integration. By combining CRM capabilities with the college’s learning management system, faculty and administrators can track student progress, provide targeted support, and proactively address challenges. With student relationship management at the forefront of institutional priorities, Watermark CRM allows staff to deliver more personalized academic guidance, improving overall student success. This initiative demonstrates the college’s ongoing investment in technology to optimize student experiences, ensuring learners receive timely assistance throughout their academic journey. As the final integration phases proceed, the institution remains committed to leveraging data-driven tools to enhance engagement and improve retention rates.
Deep Freeze Cloud: Enhancing IT Security & Mgmt
Expected Completion Date: COMPLETED
To enhance IT security and ensure consistent system configurations, PCC has successfully deployed Faronics Deep Freeze Cloud across lab computers. This cloud-based solution prevents unauthorized software changes, reducing the risk of security vulnerabilities and minimizing maintenance efforts. The transition was managed through Intune, automating the removal of outdated software while deploying the new system seamlessly. With this upgrade, IT staff can enforce security policies remotely, ensuring that campus devices remain in a stable, controlled state. This deployment providing faculty and staff with a reliable and secure computing environment while simplifying IT management.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
Intune and Entra Cloud Migration: A Hybrid IT Strategy
Expected Comple-on Date: COMPLETED
PCC continues its transition to a more flexible and scalable IT environment with the migration to Intune and Entra, enabling cloudbased device management. While the institution still operates in a hybrid IT model, auto-enrollment from Entra to Intune is now fully functional, allowing for remote policy enforcement and streamlined device administration. This move reduces the college’s dependence on on-premises infrastructure, enhancing security and efficiency while preparing for future cloud-based IT initiatives. By adopting modern endpoint management solutions, the IT department can better support faculty and staff, ensuring that devices remain compliant with security policies and receive timely updates. The migration to Intune and Entra reflects the college’s strategic approach to IT modernization, prioritizing long-term scalability, cybersecurity, and ease of management in an evolving digital landscape.
Elevating Connectivity: Phase I WiFi 6E Upgrade
Expected Comple-on Date: COMPLETED
PCC has successfully completed Phase I of the WiFi 6E Upgrade, replacing one-third of all campus access points with cutting-edge WiFi 6E technology to enhance connectivity, speed, and network reliability. This upgrade introduces faster speeds, lower latency, and increased bandwidth by utilizing the 6 GHz spectrum, reducing congestion and interference commonly found in older 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. High-traffic areas now benefit from seamless streaming, improved video conferencing, and enhanced digital learning experiences, supporting both students and faculty. Future Phases II and III will expand coverage campus-wide, ensuring full adoption of WiFi 6E and positioning the college as a leader in next-generation connectivity.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
WebUI Upgrade: Advancing System Compatibility
Expected Completion Date: Fall 2025
To improve the performance and compatibility of its administrative systems, Piedmont Community College is upgrading its Colleague WebUI environment. The current upgrade brings WebUI closer to version 6.5.0—a necessary threshold for ensuring that financial modules remain functional and supported. Four out of five system clones have already been completed, with the final upgrade planned for July. This project supports improved user interface responsiveness, enhanced system security, and full compatibility with evolving ERP and reporting tools. By modernizing the WebUI framework, PCC can streamline daily operations for departments that rely on Colleague for financial transactions, budget oversight, and student account management. The upgrade also prepares the college for upcoming enhancements in data integration and workflow automation. As higher education institutions continue to embrace digital transformation, maintaining compatibility and stability in core administrative systems is essential. This initiative ensures the college’s infrastructure remains adaptable, secure, and future-ready.
Single Sign-On for Library Access: Simplifying Digital Resources
Expected Comple-on Date: Fall 2025
To improve access to digital academic resources, Piedmont Community College is implementing Single Sign-On (SSO) for its library system. This integration uses SAML authentication to enable students and faculty to access library databases and e-resources with the same credentials they use for other campus systems. By reducing login friction, SSO enhances user convenience and encourages broader utilization of library tools critical to academic success. Once completed, this project will streamline the research experience, save valuable time for students and instructors, and improve data security through centralized credential management. SSO implementation represents a strategic step toward unified digital access across PCC’s learning ecosystem.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
Enhancing Data Protection & Resiliency: Veeam ONE
Expected Comple-on
Date: Fall 2025
To elevate data protection and resilience, Piedmont Community College is implementing a management domain for its Veeam backup environment. Following industry best practices, the project introduces a one-way trust between a new isolated domain and the college’s production systems. This architecture limits exposure in the event of a breach by ensuring backup infrastructure operates independently from everyday operations. The initiative enhances disaster recovery planning by protecting backup credentials, management interfaces, and configuration data from potential cyber threats. With Veeam One integration, IT staff gain advanced monitoring and reporting capabilities across all backup jobs and storage repositories. As cyberattacks on educational institutions grow more sophisticated, network segmentation and domain isolation are becoming essential strategies. This implementation reflects PCC’s commitment to safeguarding institutional data and ensuring business continuity under a robust, layered security framework.
Closing the Loop: Penetration Test Remediation
Expected Comple-on
Following the IT annual penetration test, IT has launched a remediation initiative to address identified vulnerabilities and strengthen its cybersecurity defenses. The penetration test, which simulated internal and external attacks, provided a detailed assessment of system weaknesses, misconfigurations, and potential entry points. The initiative includes user awareness training, updated security policies, and additional vulnerability scans to verify the effectiveness of implemented solutions. By treating the penetration test as both a diagnostic and improvement tool, PCC reinforces its proactive security posture. The remediation process not only reduces the college’s exposure to cyber threats but also aligns with best practices in regulatory compliance and institutional risk management.
Technology Initiatives at a Glance
As of July 2025
Modernizing Lab Environments: FY25–26 PC Refresh
for Windows 11 Compatibility
Expected Completion Date: Fall 2025
In support of evolving academic technology needs and ensure compatibility with modern operating systems, Piedmont Community College is planning a comprehensive PC refresh for its instructional labs during FY25–26. This upgrade will replace aging lab computers that do not meet the hardware requirements for Windows 11, Microsoft’s latest and most secure operating system. The new devices will feature faster processors, expanded memory, and improved graphics capabilities—ensuring that students have a reliable, responsive environment for course-related software and hands-on learning. As more instructional applications require robust computing power, this refresh will allow faculty to integrate up-to-date tools and platforms into the curriculum. The initiative also improves cybersecurity, reduces support costs, and streamlines the management of lab environments through modern device policies. With this investment, PCC continues its commitment to delivering a future-ready learning experience that supports student success in an increasingly digital academic landscape.