The CCS Data Centre houses many critical applications and systems, all of which are key to supporting the goals of the University. The protection of these assets is of utmost importance.

As such, CCS commissioned an external assessment of the data centre to identify risks and areas for improvement. The assessment identified eight significant findings, including UPS batteries nearing end of life, physical security gaps, air conditioning issues, and electrical and fire prevention improvements.

Due to the critical nature of the information stored in the data centre, and the investment required for these important interventions, this project was approved and prioritized by the IT governance council (ITGC) and set into motion with several initiatives:

• addressing relevant UPS, air conditioning and electrical needs;
• implementing fire prevention improvements;
• upgrading ceiling tiles to meet updated building standards; 
• addressing security gaps through the installation of cameras and other access controls; and
• evaluating the feasibility of consolidating the physical layout of the data centre, saving on electrical, cooling and floor space.

Significant progress has been made and will continue into 2019. By upgrading the physical components of the data centre and enhancing security measures, CCS can ensure the safety and security of its staff, the protection of electronic assets, and optimized efficiencies in power consumption.

Read more about data centre security improvements in the Security section “Trusted Facilities” story in this report. 

This project was approved by the U of G IT Governance Committee (ITGC). For more information on the ITGC, please refer to the Governance + Strategy section of this annual report.