Dive Brief:
- California Polytechnic State University has shifted to an 'On Premise as a Service' model of data collection and storage, in which a vendor installs new hardware and software on campus and then manages it remotely.
- eCampus News reports the OPaaS approach has no up-front cost and gives institutions the opportunity to pay as they use storage, rather than buying a set amount as an estimate of future needs.
- The new storage system also makes it easier to manage data, making new storage additions quick and simple and future upgrades no hassle.
Dive Insight:
The OPaaS approach allowed Cal Poly State University to pay for its storage needs as operating expenses rather than buying data storage in the more traditional way — purchasing several years worth of space as a capital expense. Institutions also consider the safety of the stored information. Colleges and universities are particularly vulnerable to hackers. Trends to address this include hiring a chief information security officer in addition to the CIO so one person can focus exclusively on protecting the institution from inevitable and incessant hacking attempts.