Benefits of the IT Asset Management Project

Here we highlight some of the ways in which our IT Asset Management project aligns with the digital principles in our Digital Strategy.

We Are One University

We will operate consistently as an organisation, ensuring our processes and methods of working are simple and uniformly applied.

• Our central IT asset database will provide a university-wide view of the IT estate and give expanded access to IT Service Desk and Faculty staff. This will enable us to keep more accurate inventories and improve planning of future investment.
• One asset management system will require less support than multiple systems. This will improve data integrity and reduce updating effort.
• Standardising our IT assets allows us to streamline processes for purchasing, issue, support, replacement, and disposal of devices.
• Bulk purchasing of IT hardware and software, centralised in ILS, reduces costs, and saves time.

Sustainable Digital

We will play our part in delivering on the sustainability strategy, incorporating the impact on the climate into the decision-making processes with the aim of achieving net zero.

• Our central IT asset database will facilitate greater reuse of IT equipment across the university. This will improve our compliance with sustainability policies.
• All equipment disposals will go through ILS to the preferred supplier of disposal services. This will help manage waste and increase revenue.

Security By Design

IT security must be embedded in our culture and within our governance, technology, applications and data.

• Standardising our IT assets allows us to create a less fragmented IT environment with centralised control. This improves data and system security and reduces risk, especially data protection.
• Connection to Always On VPN (Global Protect) via a managed laptop gives secure access to our internal network. Accessing our services through a VPN reduces security risks when working off campus.
• All staff devices will have the latest, most secure updates promptly applied to them.
• Devices will be of a minimum standard, ensuring that they are secure and fit for purpose.
• Vulnerable devices will automatically have access to secure university systems and data resources limited where appropriate. This will create a more secure environment.
• A central system will support additional performance reports and greater accuracy of existing reports, especially regarding security, vulnerabilities, and device status.

Service Excellence

We will provide proactive support without delay, the way each student or colleague prefers to access it, to make effective use of available resources and to remove or eliminate unnecessary barriers.

• Centralised staffing and consistent IT processes across the university make support services more efficient.
• Managed devices allow for rapid troubleshooting and a reduction in the number of user issues reported to the IT Service Desk
• Technical issues while using a managed work laptop at home can be resolved more easily.
• Maintaining and updating devices on a schedule means less unexpected downtime.
• Time saving on routine maintenance issues allows more effective use of staff resources.
• Pre-emptive purchasing and keeping devices in stock allows immediate issue, eliminating waiting time.
• Centralising laptop issue ensures that PAT testing is carried out proactively and always before staff receive equipment, improving safety and compliance.

Individual Experience

Boost individual productivity by providing an intuitive, effective, and consistent self-service-oriented experience that enables students and staff to learn, teach and work from anywhere at any time.

• Our LapSafes allow staff to borrow a managed laptop if their own needs maintenance. This ensures an equitable user experience, aids productivity, and prevents unnecessary downtime.
• Hourly paid lecturers and staff will have access to temporary laptops via LapSafe on each campus. These will work seamlessly with our classroom technology.
• Staff can work on-campus, at home or off-site with a dedicated work laptop and docking station / monitor. This provides a better flexible / remote working experience.
• Equipment standardisation and remote-control software facilitates an increase in uptime.
• We can achieve quicker and more comprehensive PAT testing for home workers by swapping equipment power supplies with pre-approved units.

Technology Excellence

Our technology solutions and infrastructure will be considered excellent and facilitate services which add value to every aspect of university life.

• All staff laptops can access tested and pre-packaged software from Software Center. The software is kept up to date, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities.
• Our management information will support improved security and maintenance of IT assets.
• IT staff will be able to run reports on our assets database. This will enable them to pre-empt requests for new/replacement devices and deliver them in a timely fashion.
• Our end-to-end IT asset lifecycle process will link supplier warranties to the equipment lifespan. This will improve IT equipment reliability and quality for staff.