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Learn about the changing role of technologists in higher education as cloud technology becomes more prevalent, including skills needed, federated identity management, and evolving practices to ensure successful cloud deployments.
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The Changing Role of the Technologist as Higher Ed Embraces the Cloud Michele Decker, University of Notre Dame Jacob Farmer, Indiana University Derek D Owens, University of Notre Dame Kris Steinhoff, University of Michigan
Relationships The success of a cloud deployment is dependent on an effective and diverse team. The engagement pattern for the team is very different than for on-premise software. If you don't include a lawyer, you may be doing it wrong.
Systems Integration • Scripting and using vendor APIs • Creating ad hoc tools • Integrating with campus systems • Filling gaps • Working with vendors • Identifying bugs • Defining feature requests • Broad knowledge • Communicating requirements and changes
Federated Identity Having flexible IAM practices and a federation infrastructure in place, can greatly reduce the complexity of integration.
Federated Identity • Benefits for Vendor/SP • Don’t have to maintain user accounts • Common way to integrate with enterprise customers (reduces startup time) • NET+ involvement opens a large market • Risks/Costs for Vendor/SP • Install and maintain SP software • Box still isn’t an InCommon SP, have to manually update metadata • Change their login flow • Custom branding for enterprises
Federated Identity Benefits for Institution/IdP • Don’t have to maintain/sync user passwords to third party • Common integration method • Auto-provisioning • Internet2 network
Federated Identity Risks/Costs for Institution/IdP • Not all of features/service offerings from Vendor/SP are integrated with SSO • Can’t restrict/control all login flows • email invitations to sign-up • Vendor/SP not able to accommodate multiple IdPs for one enterprise • Auto-provisioning (lack of control of the process)
Federated Identity Skills needed to operate a Shibboleth IdP • Technical Skills https://wiki.shibboleth.net/confluence/display/SHIB2/IdPSkills • Policy Understanding
Security, Trust, Assurance • Sensitive Data • HIPAA, FERPA • Audit, Compliance, IT Governance • SAS70 II • Logging • Monitoring • “Low-Touch”, trust of vendor • Trust but verify • Credentials • Non-Federated access, alternate credentials • Exit Strategy
Evolving Skills • Good communication, facilitation, and “whiteboarding” skills • Oral and written communication skills are fundamental to success • Persistence and ability to live with chaos • Cloud computing is fast-changingNew delivery methods appear frequently • Requirements and processes change frequently • Breadth of knowledge • Jack Of All Trades, Polymath, "Renaissance Man" • Focus upon integration, less so on building • "Infrastructure Enablers"
Evolving Skills • Can’t control progress of vendor • “Keeping up with the KardashiansJoneses” • Let them “do their thing”Don’t have to understand all the nuts and bolts • Continuous review/revision of service and integration