BOF: Meeting the Challenges of Sustainable eResearch ‘Infrastructure’ (University’s IT Perspective) Anthony Beitz General Manager, Monash e-Research Centre 22 October 2013

eResearch ‘Infrastructure’ PPeople AApplications – e.g. eTools PPlatforms – e.g. Virtual Labs IInfrastructure - e.g. compute, storage, networks NNational & Global Online Services – e.g. federated security

About Researchers  Focused on research outcomes  Work in an interpretive mode –Characteristics include: an iterative process; open-ended; and thrive on ambiguity  Their requirements and goals may change over time  Generally more loyal to research community than their institution  May require an ICT capability for only a short period of time  Very resourceful and driven

About a University’s IT Division  Generally have an institutional focus  Generally deal with enterprise level solutions  Put solutions in place for at least 3-5 years  Work in an analytical mode  Focused on cost optimisation (e.g. SOE)  Generally aim to minimise risk, maximise stability and availability of services, and reduce ambiguity

Specialisation of ‘Infrastructure’ Applications Platforms Infrastructure Specialisation

eResearch ‘Infrastructure’ Sustainability Challenges for IT (1)  People –Acquisition & retention –Providing a career path  Applications & Platforms –Transitioning support & maintenance for a bespoke system –Ongoing support & maintenance for a bespoke system –Supporting a broad and diverse ecosystem of users, many external to the institution –Covering the gap between the researcher and the application or platform –Keeping the application or platform relevant to the targeted research community/communities –Adding new functionality to a bespoke system –Funding support & maintenance –Training for a bespoke systems

eResearch ‘Infrastructure’ Sustainability Challenges for IT (2)  Infrastructure –Funding support & maintenance –Funding growth & replacement –Maintaining relevance to future applications & platforms

Suggested Strategies (1)  People –Offer at least 3 year contracts –Adopt hub & spoke model –Grow own capability –Outsource  Applications & Platforms –Utiltise ‘common’ infrastructure, e.g. NeCTAR Cloud & RDSI storage –Promote DevOps –Acquire staff comfortable in adding new functionality, supporting and maintaining bespoke systems –Consider enabling and empowering the IT help desk to assist external users, for specific systems –Encourage self-serve systems

Suggested Strategies (2) –Establish a team who can close the gap between researchers and compute, data and visualisation infrastructure –Shift from being just a service provider to being a strategic partner, go on the “journey of the unknown together” –Become more Agile –Adopt/Adapt/Develop –For community-based platforms, consider tapping into research funding. Perhaps through a subscription mechanism. –Provide easy access to online training material and courses –Empower support staff to provide informal training sessions and train-the-trainers  Infrastructure –Consider tapping into a share of the subscriptions for applications and platforms utilising the infrastructure –Become more Agile

For more information… Contact: Anthony Beitz General Manager, Monash e-Research Centre Phone: Twitter: twitter.com/a_beitztwitter.com/a_beitz LinkedIn: au.linkedin.com/pub/anthony-beitz/1/7a4/78aau.linkedin.com/pub/anthony-beitz/1/7a4/78a Website: 10