Systems Design & Architecture
The Systems Design & Architecture team provides the platforms that run all William & Mary managed systems. This includes all on-premise servers and databases across two data centers, the Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Azure cloud environments and the camera system. The team also oversees the implementation of the Banner system supporting finance, human resources and student records information. The team provides the platforms to support faculty, staff, and students across many areas including administrative applications, faculty research and student projects.
WordPress
In summer of 2021, IT replaced blogs.wm.edu with pages.wm.edu, a more modern implementation of WordPress that includes W&M logins, encryption and other features expected in a modern web publishing platform. As part of launching pages.wm.edu, IT built a tool that automatically migrates content, easing the transition for longtime users of blogs. The new platform is built on top of a completely redesigned backend to make the platform sustainable for many years to come.
Virtual Desktops
IT is working to move our Virtual Desktop system into a cloud environment that should provide increased stability, scalability, and overall improved management of the platform. This new platform will provide the capacity to offer direct app streams or a full virtual desktop environment. Additionally, we can scale resource needs with more flexibility than offered in the current on-premise architecture.
Reducing On-premise Hardware
IT continues to migrate systems into the AWS and Azure cloud environments. Adoption of cloud native technologies has smoothed this transition and allowed IT to migrate many systems with no disruption to our user community. Additionally, infrastructure as a service options allow W&M to scale resource needs rapidly to accommodate growth without ties to pre-existing hardware limitations.
