The Hidden Challenges of Scaling University IT Across Continents

The Hidden Challenges of Scaling University IT Across Continents

Discover how Notre Dame is expanding its international IT presence, strengthening partnerships, and embracing innovative technologies under the leadership of Loris Vicenanza. This episode offers insights into managing global teams, designing culturally aware IT services, and leveraging AI and security to foster a seamless international campus experience. Main Topics: * The journey of Loris Vicenanza into global IT leadership, from law firms to Notre Dame * Strategies for supporting a globally distributed university campus * Building cultural intelligence into IT services and infrastructure * Opportunities and challenges of leading international IT teams remotely * The role of AI, security, and innovative tech in enhancing global collaboration * The importance of relationships and leadership philosophy in a global organization * Future vision: standardizing experiences across campuses and expanding IT initiatives * Fun rapid-fire tech questions and Notre Dame’s global impact In this episode: * Loris shares his career path from IBM to Notre Dame and his international experience * Discussion on designing localized IT services sensitive to cultural nuances * Insights on managing remote teams across different time zones and cultural contexts * The exciting potential of AI and security protocols in international research * The importance of relationship-building and leadership in complex global structures * Notre Dame’s strategic plans for supporting global locations like London, Dublin, and Beijing * Fun quiz: What modern technology was developed for drivers and now powers smartphones? GPS! About this podcast: Behind the Screens: IT@ND is a podcast based out of the University of Notre Dame, where hosts Scott Russell (IT Director for the College of Arts & Letters) and Diana Garcia (IT Support Technician: Service Desk) give you a behind-the-scenes look at what IT consultancy is all about. Whether you're deep in the IT world or just curious about how technology powers a university, this podcast is for you. Each episode gives insight into Information Technology at Notre Dame — with focus on how IT consultants support the University, breaking down the challenges they face and the innovative solutions they create. From interviews with experts driving key campus projects to practical tips for making the most of your tech, this podcast explains how IT teams work behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly across campus. With this podcast, not only will you learn how technology professionals at Notre Dame help shape and support the future of the University, but you'll also get helpful insights and strategies to help you stay ahead.

The Half-Million Dollar Save: Strategic Sourcing in a Volatile Market

Most campus tech upgrades are about to get a lot more expensive—and that's not all. Jen Parker reveals how supply chain chaos, chip shortages, and market disruptions are causing steep price hikes for university-provided computers, with increases of up to 60%. But amidst the chaos, clever pre-buy strategies and strategic vendor partnerships are helping Notre Dame save nearly half a million dollars—proving there's always a way to navigate the storm. In this episode, you'll discover how global market shifts are impacting hardware costs and supply timelines, and why Dell's inventory advantages matter more than ever. Jen shares behind-the-scenes insights on vendor negotiations, pre-buy tactics, and how Notre Dame is locking in pricing to stabilize future budgets. From the impact of AI data center demands to the ripple effects of chip shortages, you'll learn what drives these price changes and how to stay ahead. About this podcast: Behind the Screens: IT@ND is a podcast based out of the University of Notre Dame, where hosts Scott Russell (IT Director for the College of Arts & Letters) and Diana Garcia (IT Support Technician: Service Desk) give you a behind-the-scenes look at what IT consultancy is all about. Whether you're deep in the IT world or just curious about how technology powers a university, this podcast is for you. Each episode gives insight into Information Technology at Notre Dame — with focus on how IT consultants support the University, breaking down the challenges they face and the innovative solutions they create. From interviews with experts driving key campus projects to practical tips for making the most of your tech, this podcast explains how IT teams work behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly across campus. With this podcast, not only will you learn how technology professionals at Notre Dame help shape and support the future of the University, but you'll also get helpful insights and strategies to help you stay ahead.

Introducing Device Care ND

Most universities face the same question: how do we protect our data without turning our devices into Big Brother? Notre Dame’s new Device Care ND program offers a bold, holistic approach that balances security with user trust—revealing the secret sauce behind making campus devices safer, more efficient, and more user-friendly. In this episode, Scooter sits down with Ryan Palmer and Kevin Strite to unpack how this three-year initiative is transforming endpoint management at Notre Dame. They reveal how innovative tools like Discovery, Hardware Asset Management, and advanced endpoint security are not just keeping campus data safe but also streamlining IT support and empowering end users. Discover how the program’s strategic branding helps communicate its benefits—focusing on stability, security, and a better user experience—rather than alarming “Big Brother” perceptions. You’ll learn about the foundational projects shaping the future of campus IT: from real-time device monitoring and self-remediation tools to smarter asset management—plus the exciting shift from traditional systems like MECM and Jamf to more integrated, automated solutions with ServiceNow, Intune, and others. Kevin and Ryan break down how these changes will reduce support requests, speed incident resolution, and improve data accuracy—saving time and protecting privacy along the way. Why does this matter? Ignoring endpoint security puts sensitive information at risk and leaves campus vulnerable to cyberattacks—risks that high-profile universities have already faced. But embracing these innovations unlocks a future where IT is proactive, efficient, and transparent, fostering trust and enabling faculty, staff, and students to focus on what truly matters. Whether you're in distributed IT, a tech leader, or simply curious about how your institution can stay safe without sacrificing user experience, this episode offers a clear roadmap for the future of campus cybersecurity. Perfect for IT professionals committed to impactful change, it’s your inside look at Notre Dame’s transformative journey—and how the right strategy can make your campus smarter, safer, and more secure. About this podcast: Behind the Screens: IT@ND is a podcast based out of the University of Notre Dame, where hosts Scott Russell (IT Director for the College of Arts & Letters) and Diana Garcia (IT Support Technician: Service Desk) give you a behind-the-scenes look at what IT consultancy is all about. Whether you're deep in the IT world or just curious about how technology powers a university, this podcast is for you. Each episode gives insight into Information Technology at Notre Dame — with focus on how IT consultants support the University, breaking down the challenges they face and the innovative solutions they create. From interviews with experts driving key campus projects to practical tips for making the most of your tech, this podcast explains how IT teams work behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly across campus. With this podcast, not only will you learn how technology professionals at Notre Dame help shape and support the future of the University, but you'll also get helpful insights and strategies to help you stay ahead.

Advent Kisses, Christmas Skits, and Holiday Havoc: IT at ND Shares Its Traditions

This special holiday episode of Behind the Screens IT at ND features hosts Diana (IT support technician) and Scooter (Director of Information Technology for the College of Arts and Letters), along with producer Andy (IT Partnerships Manager), as they reflect on their favorite Christmas stories and traditions. Scooter shares a funny, self-deprecating memory from when he first started dating his wife, mistaking purple-wrapped dark chocolate Hershey Kisses for "Advent kisses". Diana recounts realizing that Santa’s bite marks on her Oreos looked exactly like her dad's, while Andy shares fond memories of family gatherings in Florida during the holidays. The episode also highlights a diverse array of unique traditions shared by staff across OIT and the University: • German Christmas: A Christmas Eve dinner featuring schnitzel and sauerkraut (which the grandkids usually skip). • Festive Havoc: Lighting the old Christmas tree on fire in the yard after Christmas, and the tradition of "dog pile on the rabbit," where everyone jumps on the last person out of bed. • Christmas Skits: An annual, highly orchestrated event where characters are assigned, and the quality of your character decreases if you miss a Christmas. • Infiltration: The story of a young son who somehow bypassed jingle bells and tinsel to sneak into the living room and open presents like "Christmas Ethan Hunt". • Cultural Practices: The Polish tradition of using the Oplatek wafer on Christmas Eve to exchange wishes for peace, bury grievances, and ask for forgiveness. • Cautionary Tales: A warning for young listeners about the dangers of wiring a battery-operated BB gun shooting gallery to a 120-volt AC household outlet. Finally, the hosts share their current plans: Scooter will be playing handbells at his church's Christmas Eve service, Andy is preparing for a combined holiday as he blends his families, and Diana looks forward to spending two weeks back home in sunny Arizona. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Behind the Screens IT at ND. About this podcast: Behind the Screens: IT@ND is a podcast based out of the University of Notre Dame, where hosts Scott Russell (IT Director for the College of Arts & Letters) and Diana Garcia (IT Support Technician: Service Desk) give you a behind-the-scenes look at what IT consultancy is all about. Whether you're deep in the IT world or just curious about how technology powers a university, this podcast is for you. Each episode gives insight into Information Technology at Notre Dame — with focus on how IT consultants support the University, breaking down the challenges they face and the innovative solutions they create. From interviews with experts driving key campus projects to practical tips for making the most of your tech, this podcast explains how IT teams work behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly across campus. With this podcast, not only will you learn how technology professionals at Notre Dame help shape and support the future of the University, but you'll also get helpful insights and strategies to help you stay ahead.

Data Storage Stewardship and the Future of Cloud Collaboration

In this episode of "Behind the Screens IT at ND," hosts Diana and Scooter delve into the crucial strategic initiative of Data Storage Stewardship at the University of Notre Dame. They are joined by Cloud Collaboration Services team members Qi Wu, Lisa Torbin, and Jeff Crithlow, who offer an in-depth look at the upcoming changes to the university's online storage options.The core of the stewardship project is establishing sustainable, secure, and cost-effective practices for managing the university’s growing data footprint. The goal is to define use cases and standardize storage options, encapsulated in the concept of "best fit storage". Guests explain that this shift is driven not only by vendors starting to charge for storage but also by the need to operate comfortably within dual ecosystems—Google Workspace remains the primary platform for daily collaboration and email, but M365 is essential for partnerships with Microsoft-centric organizations, research consortia, and government agencies. Key Takeaways and Upcoming Changes Discussed: * Box Retirement Timeline: The decision has been made to retire the Box environment by July 1, 2027. The team plans to provide published steps to minimize impact and help the 14,000 current users transition their data to either Google or Microsoft 365. * Google Storage Caps and Chargebacks: In response to Google ending free unlimited storage, new accounts and shared drives now have set allocations (100 GB for My Drive, 250 GB for Shared Drives). Starting July 1, 2026, OIT will implement a chargeback model for allocations greater than 5 terabytes. Guests note that currently, fewer than 100 Google user accounts and Shared Drives exceed this threshold. * Data Security and Cleanup: The team emphasizes that "unattended data is not secure data". Efforts are underway to clean up stale data, reduce the number of provisioned accounts (the Box footprint has been reduced from 32,000 to 14,000), and address "orphaned shared drives" that lack managers or creators. Defining Best Fit Storage: * Google Drive/Shared Drives are recommended for active, frequently accessed data and collaboration. Guests detail the uses of My Drive (personal storage, subject to account lifecycle management) and Shared Drives (departmental/project storage). * Highly Sensitive Information (HSI), such as social security numbers or credit card data, should be stored in specialized HSI Shared Drives in Google, which cannot be shared externally and must be approved and governed by InfoSec and an access group. * Microsoft 365 (M365) is best for departments requiring strong integration with Microsoft Office formats, PowerBI, and specific external collaboration needs. Teams will be used as the M365 answer to Google Shared Drives, with plans for automating creation, governance, and life cycle management. About this podcast: Behind the Screens: IT@ND is a podcast based out of the University of Notre Dame, where hosts Scott Russell (IT Director for the College of Arts & Letters) and Diana Garcia (IT Support Technician: Service Desk) give you a behind-the-scenes look at what IT consultancy is all about. Whether you're deep in the IT world or just curious about how technology powers a university, this podcast is for you. Each episode gives insight into Information Technology at Notre Dame — with focus on how IT consultants support the University, breaking down the challenges they face and the innovative solutions they create. From interviews with experts driving key campus projects to practical tips for making the most of your tech, this podcast explains how IT teams work behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly across campus. With this podcast, not only will you learn how technology professionals at Notre Dame help shape and support the future of the University, but you'll also get helpful insights and strategies to help you stay ahead.