Information Technology Current Work in System Architecture November 2003 Tom Board Director, NUIT Information Systems Architecture.

Information Technology

Current Work inSystem Architecture

November 2003

Tom BoardDirector, NUIT Information Systems Architecture


Presentation Outline

• Context• Business environment• Security• Integration• Architectural future

We are heading toward a future that will be based on these ideas.


Context

• Self-service. The world expects it.

• Central digital identity. The basis for service unification and enhanced security.

• Loosely-coupled systems. Replace tight integration between systems with Web Services to expose functions in standard ways.


Business Relationships

Three groups:– Clients/Users

– NU Service Units

– Technology Enablers

Technology enables NU service units to create the best services for their particular clients

Clients within or outside NU

Service Methods

Applications and Tools

NU Providers

Enabling Technologies

Identity & Security


Technology’s Role

• Information Technology enables – it is not an end

• Effective IT increases human capital effectiveness

• Human capital realizes the goals of the organization

• As IT capabilities improve, human capital adapts to its advantage

• Higher levels of excellence can be achieved


Human Capital

Organizational Excellence


Best-in-Breed Services

• Once defined, a System Architecture permits the University to deploy the best IT approach for each given application

• The University need not build or house the IT services – best-in-breed solutions can be integrated together.

Locally authored Purchased software run locally

PurchasedInternet-basedservices



University Business EnvironmentThe user’s experience should be of unified access to services through a standard, Web-based portal. Transactions with applications are initiated through this portal.

Based upon identity attributes set by Human Resources and the Registrar, institutional roles are defined that create separate views of University systems in that context. This is also a available for basic application security.

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University Business EnvironmentUsing portal technology will group functions around the individual’s personal responsibilities.

Roles present functions in context and can enforce additional authorizations.

Tailoring of role functions can follow specific entitlements granted by service providers.

Personalization gives the person control to optimize his or her time and use of information.


Service and Data Flow

The combination of unified presentation, common authorization, and standard connectors will create a seamless service to the end-user.

Identity management will be a key aspect of the infrastructure serving the entire network. Authoritative identity information from key systems will define roles and default entitlements.

Coupledcentral applications

End-user

Portal

Commoncredentials

LDAPLDAP

Central identity and entitlements

SES HRIS


Security

• NU will need firm management of digital identities to give service units confidence

• We will need to adapt existing systems, and specify new ones, to achieve desired levels of security.


Role-Based Security

StudentFinancial

Registration

Time Entry

Roles assigned to identities offer an initial screening of access to resources. This screening can occur at the application or even within the network itself – making access to host systems impossible for some individuals.

Department Assistant


Delegated Access Control

Unified central identity management allows delegated control of access by service administrators.

Entitlements can be based on roles (by job class) or membership in groups or individually through rules.

Local service access rules

Credentials

Application security

Portal

Sensitive data

Application management Central management


System Integration

• We should enhance services by coupling enterprise systems to speed processes

• Portal-based access to services relies upon this coupling


System Integration

SES

HRISResearch

Advance

Financials

“Integration” is a perception by the customer of a unified service. A restaurant appears as a unified whole delivering a service.

The appearance of integration is realized by coupling systems, not merging them. The cook, waiter, and cashier are separate systems that communicate effectively to deliver a single service to the customer. A breakdown in that communication exposes the internal structure to the customer.

An integrated administrative system will deliver a set of services crossing boundaries hidden from the customer through effective coupling of systems. The resulting service structure only appears monolithic, but remains distributed. Each separate system can be a best-in-class solution to its needs, with the necessary requirement that it communicate well to the remainder of the administrative matrix.


Integration BenefitsIntegrated enterprise systems can reduce the time to complete services across the University, eliminate manual steps (and errors), and create auditable transaction records.

A hiring event can trigger financial and service actions. Some actions could be immediate and others queued for review by service administrators before fulfillment.

Later events, such as completed training, can be promoted back into the HR record for the employee.

Human Resources System

Hiring Event

ProvisionNetID

ProvisionWildcard

Encumber salaryand benefits

Provisionaccess

Scheduletraining

ProvisionETES

Notifysupervisor

Subscribe toemail lists

Queue toERP

Notifysupervisor

Provisiondirectory

Provisioncalendar

Provisionlocal services

Scheduletraining

Subscribe toemail lists

Queue to

school

Notifysupervisor

Notify unitfundsmgr

EmployeeRecord


Summary

• User self-service, reduced manual interfaces, and easier deployments will save effort and reduce errors

• Unified identity management will create consistency of services and security across the University

• Vendor adoption of application coupling methods combined with simplified local development will speed deployment of new functions

• The portal navigation point will reduce confusion and save time


The Challenge – Application SilosApplication silos develop naturally around business systems and software under standard architectural planning and funding. Each business unit invents user management, tracks authorizations, and builds interfaces to other systems.

Silos limit views of institutional data, fragment security, require manual re-entry of data and detract from the user’s “integrated system” experience.

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Information Technology Current Work in System Architecture November 2003 Tom Board Director, NUIT Information Systems Architecture.

Documents

information technology

information technology

portal technology

service providers

best services

services best

service unification

seamless service