IT Central, Distributed and Local Services Scope

It is the responsibility of the IT Advisory Board and the CIO to define what IT Central, Distributed, and Local Services are and how they should be organized, funded, and staffed based on University goals and priorities. To accomplish this general understanding, the scope and boundaries of IT Central, Distributed, and Local Services are defined as follows:

IT Central Services

These are University-wide IT services. These services fall under the IT Governance Model for direction, definition of programs, funding and resources required by the University IT Board of Directors. It is not specifically limited to iTech but includes all IT services at The University of Southern Mississippi. The following categories define IT Central Services:

Regulatory Compliance - This is the centralized management and development of University policies to ensure support for federal and state law, regulatory compliance agencies, and overall IT security measures. Centralized compliance includes but not limited to the following:

• IT SACs accreditation requirements
• IT NCate accreditation requirements
• HIPAA - The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
• SOX - The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
• FERPA - The Family Educational Right to Privacy Act of 1974
• MS PRA - Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983
• TeacherACT
• Standardization Polices and Data Management

Economy of Scale - Centralized IT services should be leveraged to reduce cost per unit resulting from increased production, realized through operational efficiencies. Economies of scale can be accomplished because as production increases, the cost of producing each additional unit falls. Examples of flexing Centralized IT Service Model would include the following:

• Standardize PC - Single source for PC and Mac computers
• Standardize Desktop (Operating System and Office Suite)
• Standardize Maintenance and Helpdesk Support
• Standardize Security and Virus Protection
• Standardize Backups and Disaster Recovery
• Standardize Training
• Standardize Client Expectations

Enterprise Architectures - IT Services should focus on the overall University not specific to a Department or College. IT Central Services should focus on Architectures not one-at-a-time solutions. Architectures should include the following:

• Network / Telecommunication
• Server Farm Security
• Application
• Development
• Data integration / Management
• Customer Service
• Planning and Process

Shared Governance

Shared Governance is when IT Central Services are not required but crosses the boundaries of one or more University Organization. Shared Governance is enacted if a Local IT Service incurs a liability to the University.

Exception Management

There will be times when a University Organization will need assistance with technology services that do not fall in the other IT Central Services Categories.

Distributed Services

These are the centralized services that occur within a specific organization. Distributed Services would include but are not limited to following:

• IT Consulting Services - IT Planners, Customer Service Liaisons, and Business Analyst
• PC Technical Support - Computer Repairs
• Enhanced Classroom support
• Equipment Services
• IT Computer Disposal

Local IT Services

These are specific organization needs and requirements or IT initiatives that do not require IT Central Support or have a liability to the University general fund.