Australian higher education institutions (HEIs) are currently at a crossroads, with many institutions facing technological challenges that are impacting their operational efficiency and ability to deliver high-quality education programs, both on campus and online.
Many Australian universities are still reliant on legacy systems that are not only costly to maintain but also impede the integration of new digital solutions. This results in a fragmented IT environment where data silos hinder effective decision-making and resource allocation. The rapid shift towards online learning platforms necessitated by recent global events has exposed further deficiencies in existing IT frameworks, notably in scalability and security.
The financial strain on the higher education sector, exacerbated by decreased funding and the need to rapidly adapt to online education, underscores the urgency for more streamlined operations. Manual administrative tasks, such as student admissions, enrollment, and records management, consume substantial time and resources that could otherwise be directed towards teaching and student support services.
In response to these pressing challenges, automation through a dedicated IT partner like Advent One emerges as a strategic solution.
Advent One and Red Hat Ansible: Your Higher Education Automation Superheroes
Australian universities face a dual challenge: juggling the cutting-edge technology required for advanced research and the everyday IT demands of administrative services. The manual management of these diverse needs is often overwhelming and inefficient. However, recent research shows that ‘scholars and in particular the laboratory scientists who work as teams can dramatically increase their productivity and effectiveness with tools that support them systematically from research design and funding through data collection and analysis to assessment and showcasing’. By partnering with Advent One and leveraging automation through Red Hat Ansible, HEIs can do just this, streamlining workflows while simultaneously embracing new technology solutions.
With proven experience in the higher education sector through collaborations with institutions like Monash University, Advent One effectively automates routine tasks across infrastructure management, backup, and monitoring. This approach not only reduces manual workloads for HEIs but also significantly enhances data security and operational efficiency. By integrating disparate systems and augmenting internal teams with specialised expertise through our managed IT model, Advent One ensures that universities can focus on their research priorities and educational outcomes.
4 Ways Advent One and Ansible Empower Efficiency in Higher Education
Automating Research Data Infrastructure
Use Case: Streamline provisioning and configuration for new research clusters.
Benefits: Advent One has developed Ansible playbooks that can automate the deployment and configuration of servers, storage, and software needed for research projects. This frees researchers and IT staff from repetitive tasks and ensures consistent configurations, minimising security risks.
Simplifying Patch Management Across Campuses
Use Case: Automate the patching process for critical security updates on servers across multiple campuses.
Benefits: Advent One Standardises patch management with Ansible ensuring all systems receive crucial updates promptly, reducing vulnerability windows and protecting sensitive data in research and corporate IT environments.
Standardising Backups for Research Data and Administrative Systems
Use Case: Set up automated backup schedules for research data storage and critical administrative systems.
Benefits: At Advent One we can configure Ansible playbooks to automate backups for research databases, student records, and other essential data, ensuring quick disaster recovery in case of system failures or cyberattacks.
Automating Onboarding and Offboarding Student Accounts
Use Case: Automate the creation and deletion of student accounts across various systems (email, learning management systems) at the start and end of semesters.
Benefits: Advent One leverages Red Hat to automate user provisioning and de-provisioning, reducing manual workload for IT staff and minimising the risk of unauthorised access to university systems.
Beyond Efficiency: The Power of Advent One and Ansible
Automation with Advent One and Ansible goes beyond saving time. It fosters consistency, reduces human error, and empowers IT staff to focus on strategic initiatives. Additionally, Ansible integrates seamlessly with existing IT infrastructure, including VMware and public cloud platforms.
By partnering with the team at Advent One, higher education institutions in Australia can leverage the power of Red Hat Ansible to streamline operations, improve security, and empower research and learning.
Higher Education Automation with Advent One
Advent One’s robust automation solutions, exemplified through our use of Red Hat Ansible, have empowered numerous higher education and research institutions to streamline their IT operations, fostering a more dynamic and secure technological environment.
As we continue to advance the integration of automation technologies, we invite you to join us at the upcoming Higher Education Summit. This event will be an excellent opportunity for attendees to engage directly with our team, learn more about our cutting-edge solutions, and see firsthand how automation can significantly enhance efficiency and compliance in the educational sector.
To learn more about how Advent One can enhance your institution’s cybersecurity posture, book a meeting with us today!