Information Support Services Home   
IT Applications and Infrastructure Governance Previous   
Library Use Next   
Information Support Services Up   
Search   
Print   
Help   

The current, official version of this policy and associated procedures is maintained on this Policies and Procedures Database. Printing this policy or transferring it into another electronic format will result in the document being an uncontrolled copy which might not be current.
 

IT Architecture

 
Policy and Scope
Procedure
Responsibilities
Forms
Related Materials
Status
 

SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION

 

PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy and procedure is

  1. to outline the policy for making decisions regarding technological solutions within the framework of the Swinburne Information Technology Reference Architecture (SITRA). This SITRA document also serves as a standard that can be distributed to vendors or external bodies tasked with meeting Swinburne standards via delivered solutions.
  2. to ensure that all Information Technology (IT) hardware and software is purchased through IT Procurement, thereby ensuring compliance with the University’s IT architecture, competitive pricing and that requisite IT and University purchasing practices are followed.

 

 

SCOPE

This policy and procedure applies University-wide.

It applies to all information technology (IT) activities and infrastructure across the University including (but not limited to):

  1. Operations;
  2. Development, enhancement or acquisition of applications;
  3. External IT services and minor change requests;

irrespective of their funding source and irrespective of whether development and/or operational services will be provided by Information Technology Services (ITS) or a third party.

 

DEFINITIONS

Word/Term

Definition

None

 

 

LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT

Name

Location

None.

 

 

SECTION 2 - POLICY

 

PRINCIPLES

 

  1. To ensure the University delivers effective information technology (IT) services and introduces change reliably and efficiently, the consistent use of standard IT methodologies, tools, configurations and products, both hardware and software is required. 

 

  1. The University’s IT standards are outlined in the Swinburne Reference Information Technology Architecture (SITRA), which aims to
    • Prevent the use of technologies and tools that would negatively impact the organisation in terms of maintenance, risk or additional support costs.
    • Provide technical standards which apply to potential new systems and which can be included in any discussions with vendors.
    • Minimise the proliferation of similar applications and solutions that could be consolidated into a single application or through re-use of an existing supported application.
    • Minimise the duplication of data preventing re-keying and increasing data integrity by adhering to known, supported data structures and re-use of existing data sources.

 

 

POLICY

1.

Compliance

1.1

All initiatives involving the use of Information Technology must comply with this policy and procedure, including both operational and development work.

 

1.2

Non-compliance with this policy and procedure, in particular divergence from SITRA, will only be authorised on a case by case basis and must be authorised by the Chief Information Officer (CIO).

 

1.3

The CIO is empowered to disconnect systems which, through non-compliance with the relevant standards, represent an unacceptable level of risk to the University.

2.

Use of the Swinburne Information Technology Reference Architecture (SITRA)

 

2.1

The SITRA must be referred to and complied with when undertaking an initiative involving the use of IT, regardless of whether work is undertaken within the University or by third parties.

 

2.2

The SITRA must be made available to third parties seeking to provide IT related goods or services to the University. It is the responsibility of the procuring business unit to ensure that such third party providers can demonstrate compliance with the SITRA.

 

2.3

The CIO will have delegated responsibility for the maintenance of SITRA as appropriate.

 

3.

Principles of the SITRA

 

3.1

In order to support flexible, secure, sustainable and supportable IT systems, the SITRA will accord with the following principles

  1. Making use of existing systems in preference to the introduction of new systems
  2. Making use of core systems in preference to the use of non-core systems
  3. Use of open standards
  4. Use of packaged and configurable solutions in preference to solutions requiring the custom development of software
  5. Products for which vendor support is available
  6. Use of a standard operating environment
  7. Systems which are compliant with relevant legislative or regulatory requirements related to non-functional aspects such as privacy, security and resilience

 

3.2

The SITRA defines core systems and the level of availability and support which is required for a core system

 

4

Procurement

4.1

The procurement of IT related goods and services must comply with this policy and procedure, and with other relevant policies, including the Tenders and Quotations Policy.

 

4.2

All hardware and software is to be purchased via IT Procurement, a section within the ITS Department

 

4.3

The Chief Information Officer will provide a catalogue of approved hardware, software and mobile devices

 

4.4

Equipment listed in the IT procurement catalogue will be updated from time to time under the delegated authority of the Chief Information Officer