Active Directory Q & A
What is the Active Directory project and how will it help the university run better?
Active Directory project will consolidate multiple Microsoft domains to reduce duplication of services and provide a single source for login credentials across the University. This will allow single userID and Password authentication.
I am led to believe that this was begun as a 6 month project about 2 years ago. Why is the project taking so long and what are the additional complexities that have stretched out the time line?
The Active Directory was designed to be a 2 year project including a one year migration. There have been some delays as we identify certain situations that have to be dealt with. The lack of consistent configuration on the workstations has made this a longer than anticipated process and complicated our plans for migration of the workstations (which is a large percentage of the overall project effort). We are trying to bring this project to completion prior to beginning work on Systems Renewal.
Why is the data being collected essential to the successful completion of this project?
We need to determine the primary user of each of the approximately 2300 machines that login to the existing domain so we can locate where the machine is in order to migrate it without impacting the user. Other information collected will help to migrate each machine remotely as opposed to having a technician personally visit each desktop to collect the information. This will save a significant amount of time and effort.
Has the need for this data and the process to collect been approved by the technology round table or the Active Directory advisory group?
The Technology Round Table and the Active Directory advisory group have been briefed on the project status.
How sensitive is the information and how might it be used if it were to fall into the wrong hands?
Not sensitive at all. No personal information is being collected or is required other than userID which is already published information.
What security measures are in place to ensure that the data is indeed secure, both during the collection phase and thereafter?
Normal security measures are in place. Only a handful of project team members will have access to the information on a need to know basis.
What level of prior consultation has occurred?
The Active Directory Advisory Committee and TRT have been briefed on next steps. The Administration Division Senior Management Team have also been consulted.
The memo says that departmental reps have been asked to help in this initiative. How much in the way of Faculty resources will be needed to complete this project.
We do not anticipate the effort on the part of the faculty IT resources to be in any way significant. At this point, until we collect the required information, the actual total effort is not yet known. UTS will make every conceivable effort to minimize the amount of effort required by Faculty resources and we will work with each Faculty to bring this project to a successful completion as quickly as possible.
Notice
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