Digital Solutions and Services
The Digital Solutions & Services department has been created in response to the University’s recognition of the importance of a strong digital base in meeting our strategic objectives.
Developed as a key element in the University’s new operating model, the department brings together a number of digital functions from across the University, with a remit to create, develop and deliver innovative digital solutions in support of our digital strategy. Delivered via a mix of operational and project-based activity the department’s remit includes:
- IT Infrastructure and endpoint provision support
- Applications development, management and support
- Data management and integration services
- Solutions and content design and delivery for University of Derby Online programmes, short courses and MOOCs
- Digital learning technology development and support
- Digital learning practice, digital skills and capability enablement
- Cyber Security and IT risk
Key facts and figures for the department include:
- Around 120 committed and talented staff
- SaaS as a primary option for new enterprise systems - currently over 85% of enterprise applications are delivered off-premise
- Hyper-converged infrastructure with approx. 650 Virtual Machines, moving to hybrid cloud
- Software-defined multi-site data centre network
- Two main data centres with resilient network, security, and application delivery infrastructure
- Cyber security controls including a SIEM, multi-factor authentication and Cyber Essentials +
- Modern network infrastructure across sites in Derby, Chesterfield, Buxton and Leek compromising an SDA-ready platform and 800+ wireless AP’s supporting the estate of approximately 6000 devices
- An enterprise data warehouse, which presents our enterprise data model for consumption and analysis throughout the university. Which includes more than 20 data marts covering the student journey from application to graduation, our estate utilisation, resource planning, and learning analytics
Digital Solutions and Services forms part of the Chief Performance Officer’s portfolio which also includes:
- Estates
- Marketing and Communications
- International
- Strategic Insights and Planning
- Derby Student Residences Ltd