Planning and implementing additions and changes to IT infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing campus.
With each passing year, LCAD’s user base grows. It is the responsibility of the infrastructure team to plan and implement changes to the IT systems in order for them to continue to function reliably and provide a consistent user experience. Additionally, the infrastructure team helps campus IT keep up with new technology. Technology is constantly evolving and we need to keep reviewing and evaluating new processes, ideas, software, and hardware to see how they can positively impact LCAD’s learning environment.
Maintaining and supporting Internet/networking on school-owned equipment.
LCAD user-assigned workstations.
Maintaining the workstations for the administrative staff, including software and hardware troubleshooting. This includes staff iMac and Apple portable workstations.
LCAD Lab Computers.
Creating, testing, and deploying stable software platforms for faculty and students to use in the classrooms. This includes extensively testing software configurations and compatibility to ensure consistent and reliable operation.
LCAD Servers.
Maintain and upgrade as needed the servers that run all of the authentication, file storage, student information systems, learning management systems.
LCAD Network.
All our servers and equipment wouldn’t be of much use without people being able to access them – that’s where networking comes in. We maintain a network between the LCAD campuses, dorms, and a datacenter in Rancho Santa Margarita. Our network is built for redundancy and performance to provide the most consistent and reliable user experience possible. This includes the infrastructure networking as well as the campus wireless network.
Information, data, and electronic security.
Compliance with FERPA and similar/related guidelines.
While IT is not directly responsible for all FERPA compliance there is a large portion that has to do with data security. Protection of student personal data is one of IT’s highest priorities.
User authentication (Passwords) and access control.
The infrastructure team is responsible for creating and maintaining LCAD’s user accounts and access groups. Making sure students and faculty can access only the systems they are supposed to be able to access. We also provide a self-service password reset page for user convenience.
Facility access controls (fobs/mag locks).
Currently the task of managing the key fob system falls with the infrastructure group and the Main Campus Reception desk. Reception generates the cards and interfaces with the end users and Infrastructure manages the permissions and the schedules, including but not limited to holiday schedules and special event schedules.
Creation and enforcement of campus IT policies and procedures.
Digital security policies and enforcement.
Making sure that data is safe and secure is a huge task these days with the increasing frequency of intrusion attempts we identify and mitigate. We strive to protect campus systems and users from threats on the internet via a mix of technical resources and security/use policies. When we say no to filesharing, it’s for *many* reasons – not just for intellectual property reasons, it’s for security reasons as well.
Creating and maintaining IT systems documentation.
Along with the complexity of our infrastructure comes significant documentation – from how-to guides to disaster recovery planning. We document everything extensively as part of our efforts to create a consistent user experience.
To utilize LCAD campus resources, you must agree to the Acceptable Use policies that are presently in place. In order for us to keep things running smoothly, remain in compliance with data security guidelines and best practices, and make sure everyone gets an equal share of the campus resources, we have every member of the staff, faculty, and student body agree to the Acceptable Use policies on our campus. Violation of the AUP terms can result in revocation of your network access.