Server Hosting (Windows and Linux): Systems and Cloud Computing Services provide physical
and virtual server hosting for both infrastructure as well as departmental services
hosted in the University's data centers. The data centers are secure, highly redundant
and have reliable power sources along with uninterruptible powers supplies and backup
generator in the case of electrical outages.
The IT Infrastructure Services team hosts several file storage solutions in the WCU
data centers. We maintain and administer network attached storage using Dell EMC Isilon.
This platform allows for high-volume storage and backup, protected via Active-Passive
replication between WCU data centers. Additionally, we utilize Distribute Files Systems
(DFS) to provide an additional file share option. If your department or team needs
a place to store or share files, please contact IT Infrastructure Services to discuss
what option will best suit your specific needs.
The IT Infrastructure Services team maintains, hosts, and administers an enterprise
class backup and recovery system. All critical virtual and physical servers are backed
up with redundant copies stored in each data center. This service is also available
to any departmental or application server hosted by the Infrastructure Services department.
IT Infrastructure Services administers and maintains the University’s Exchange Online
and Office 365 environments.
Exchange Online provides all the functionality of traditional on-premise Exchange
environments with greater reliability, security, and capacity. Additionally, Exchange
Online fully integrates with other Office 365 applications and features allowing students,
faculty and staff to use Office 365 collaboration, productivity, and educational tools
to their fullest potential.
To further protect email and enhance productivity, Infrastructure Services utilizes
Mimecast, a cloud-based email security and spam filtering service. In addition to
helping reduce spam, malware, and virus threats Mimecast’s Targeted Threat Protection
suite steps up the security measures, defending against malicious email attachments,
impersonation fraud and malicious URLs.
West Chester University of PA has an enterprise agreement with Microsoft on it's integrated
cloud services that allow IT to build, deploy, manage applications and services through
Azure's global network of data centers.
SAML (Security Assertion Markup Language) is an Authentication and Authorization protocol
that WCU is using for single-sign-on applications provided and used by West Chester
University. This allows people with a WCU Login Account to use that same account on
many of web services such as Library Resources, Zoom Meetings, RamCard Services, etc.
The service is provided by a system called Shibboleth and is also utilized for Federation
of InCommon members. A list of default attributes used by West Chester University is located here.
