Block Storage (SAN) offers a secure, redundant storage solution for physical and virtual servers located in the OU Shared Services Data Centers. Data protection, disaster recovery, and Data Center support ensure the availability and integrity of your critical data and files. Additionally, options for replication across multiple Data Centers, user-defined volume back-up schedules, and enhanced support can augment storage resiliency and redundancy. Available in 1 GB increments, Block Storage (SAN) can decrease total storage space needs by consolidating storage and back-up of identical files.
OU Information Technology Services
Shared Services offerings are built on proven best in class technology platforms. These include: robust high-speed data and storage network fabrics, highly redundant storage technologies, leveraging a full suite of software tools including de-duplication and data progression, most advanced virtualization platform provides the highest level of utility and efficiency, firewall and intrusion prevention systems ensure the appropriate level of security for various data classifications including PII, HIPAA, and FERPA data, as well as replication between datacenters.
Block storage (SAN)
Virtual server hosting
Virtual server hosting offers server-based software on a scalable virtual server in OU IT’s new Shared Services private cloud. Your Microsoft or Linux server will exist in VM Ware in one of OU IT’s new, state-of-the-art data centers on the Norman, HSC, or Tulsa campus. You can scale server resources like CPU, memory, and storage to meet the requirements of your hosted application(s). Virtual servers are more flexible and cost efficient than traditional physical servers.
In the event of technical issues, we provide automatic failover for your virtual server to other hardware. These servers can failover to hardware in multiple data centers to meet your availability requirements.
Team Collaboration Sites
Team Collaboration Sites offer a web-based collaboration platform using Microsoft SharePoint that incorporates document management, sharing, editing and workflow, shared calendars and task lists, as well as functions for managing collaborative site content, personalization and more.
File Storage
File Storage offers a secure, state-of-the-art clustered storage system for your team’s or department’s unstructured data and files (e.g. MS Office files, video, images, PDFs, archives, etc.), similar to typical Windows or Linux file shares.
This service features a robust file-system utilizing high-speed networking for faster access and enables your team or department to store and access files from on or off campus (with VPN) using Windows, Mac OSX, or Unix/Linux operating systems. By integrating seamlessly with your operating system, File Storage lets you view files in mapped folders that behave exactly like typical folders on your desktop.
Additionally, you can manage permissions for file access through Active Directory groups or for individuals at the folder/directory level. You can purchase space in increments of 1 GB; however, our Shared Services infrastructure can accommodate large-scale storage needs (multiple-terabytes).
All storage you purchase will benefit from Storage SnapShot backup technology, allowing the customer and/or their users to see and restore their own data and files if they wish (up to 2 weeks) and is calculated as a part of your regular storage consumption. In addition to the high-speed storage and integrated SnapShot backups available in the base offering, we offer a geo-redundancy option which will sync copies of your data between multiple data centers. If you require such redundancy, you can also select replication across multiple data centers at an additional cost. Further, the Shared Services Enterprise Backup service can also be used (at an additional cost) for data backup and retrieval purposes of your data and files, and may be necessary based on your compliance requirements.
Data Center Co-location
Data Center Co-Location offers hosted technology infrastructure in one of OU IT’s new, Tier II or Tier III Data Center facilities (Norman, Health Sciences, and Tulsa). Data Center Co-Location Services offer a secure Data Center hosting environment that features reliable high-speed networking, redundant power and cooling, and scalable rack-space, as well as escorted physical access to your equipment.
Co-location is available for most rack mountable infrastructure equipment, including servers, storage, networking and firewall devices. Our Data Centers can accommodate non-rack mountable devices; however, the equipment owner is responsible for providing appropriate shelving. All equipment in OU IT Data Centers will undergo periodic vulnerability scans.
File Archiving
File Archiving provides economic, safeguarded university file storage for files that no longer change by utilizing built-in replication across data center facilities. Change protection is not provided by this service so a consultation is recommended to ensure this storage service is appropriate for your data.
Database As A Service
Database as a Service provides on-demand access to a database for the storage of application data. We offer two separate solutions- Oracle and SQL. Oracle Database offers rapid provisioning, high and consistent performance, and excellent support. SQL Database delivers predictable performance, scalability, business continuity, data protection, and near-zero administration to developers, departments and other application providers.
Data Back-Up
Shared Services Backup is a centralized backup and recovery service for computer systems and data storage services located in the Shared Services data center. Based on a monthly fee structure and the amount of data being backed up, Shared Services backup can protect your computer system and/or storage services from data loss. The system is built upon Commvault’s Simpana platform and allows you to schedule backups and perform recoveries at your discretion. Data is backed up once a day.
SSL Certificate
SSL Certificate provides the padlock and the https protocol (over port 443) to allow secure connections from a web server to a browser. SSL certificates from Shared Services connect customers’ security keys to the University of Oklahoma’s details.
Virtual Desktop
Virtual Desktops provide individuals, departments, and special use cases the ability to deliver and use standardized, software-based virtual workstations to existing or lower-cost computing hardware. The Virtual Desktop service provides the ability to host desktop software in a scalable virtual environment within OU’s Shared Services private cloud. Using a pre-built suite of software or supplying one of your own, virtual desktop customers can connect and run University applications from anywhere in the world across the network. The service allows for scalability of desktop resources such as CPU, memory, and storage to meet the requirements of various uses and applications, making virtual desktops more flexible, secure, and lower total-cost-of-ownership than traditional physical workstations.
Solution Consultation
Solution Consultation provides an opportunity for Shared Services staff and resources to meet with customers on the development of complete solutions that may require the combination of multiple individual Shared Services service offerings.
