The information systems of the Universidad Industrial de Santander now feature state-of-the-art technology, providing greater capacity for data storage and analysis, more reliable systems, improved usability, enhanced information security, faster speeds, better performance, and seamless integration with current information systems.
UIS Rector Hernán Porras Díaz, along with a team from the Center for Information and Communication Technologies (Centic), conducted an inspection on Monday morning of the installation of these new servers and recently acquired equipment, which will significantly streamline processes for storing high-priority information.
This equipment, procured last September through a bidding process at a cost of 1.79 billion pesos, has already begun operation. The arrival and installation of the remaining equipment are expected to be completed by December 15.
Gilberto Díaz, ICT Advisor to the UIS Rector’s Office, shared the specifications of these technologies and their functionality. “We have acquired a mirror platform for all the university’s new information systems, including administrative systems. The first batch of new equipment includes a storage system for the database and all aspects of the university’s document management. These are new devices with a capacity of approximately 30 terabytes for the database. This equipment has a mirror, a backup site that ensures we are protected against any incidents,” he explained.
“The other equipment has a capacity of 2.2 petabytes, which is roughly equivalent to the storage capacity of 2,300 laptops, to give you an idea of the amount of capacity we’ve acquired. This system will handle all the university’s critical data,” he added.
Meanwhile, Édgar Antonio Mesa Rincón, Head of the Division of Information and Communication Technologies at UIS, explained how these acquisitions were achieved. “As part of the process and planning for acquiring new information technology, we held a tender process in recent months, which concluded last Friday with the purchase of the Perimeter Security Platform. This platform shields us from external threats. This is part of what is being implemented. Additionally, we are studying the setup of the university’s alternate data center, which is part of the requirements of ISO 27001. We are currently in the process of implementing and certifying this standard,” he stated.
These advancements underscore UIS’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology to ensure robust, secure, and efficient management of institutional information.
According to Pablo Josué Rojas Yepes, Systems Administrator at UIS, these devices provide backup and security, serving as cutting-edge technological tools that act as a shield against potential hacking attempts or incidents from external entities.
“These devices allow us to replicate most of the processes within the university. We can store documents, which reduces paper consumption and environmental impact. The new equipment also helps reduce energy consumption, further minimizing our environmental footprint. We have an active-active replication, which allows us to duplicate the data over time as it’s added and generated by the university.”
It’s important to note that for the acquisition of this equipment, UIS held a historic auction that resulted in a 60% reduction in the commercial value.
The auction started at approximately 4.5 billion pesos, and the winning bidder secured it for around 1.79 billion pesos, leading to a 61% savings for the university. This will enable the future acquisition of more equipment. In total, the savings amounted to 2.71 billion pesos from the UIS budget.
