M2M communications are steadily improving the exchange of data between machines and back-end IT systems to enable the collection and flow of data to people and influencing the way we work and live.

Mansell Nelson will present an overview of the rapidly developing M2M world and provide examples of how the education sector can benefit from M2M remote monitoring, critical network access, mobile workforce and transactional solutions to reduce costs, generate new revenue streams and to help improve the higher learning experience on campuses across Canada.

Mansell Nelson, Vice President, M2M, Rogers Wireless, Platinum Sponsor

This presentation will provide a high level overview of how to develop an information security plan for ERP implementations from a security standpoint. it will outline main security streams that need to be considered in the planning and implementation stages of ERP projects like project governance artifacts, IT controls, and recommendations on how to approach their development in project mode and through sustainment of ERP operations past the project stage.

In the 80s the personal computer revolution dramatically altered the way users accessed information and services. This happened again in the 90s with the Web. Now it’s happening all over again with smart phones and tablets. Mobile computing is challenging universities, especially their central IT organizations, to deliver their information, services and support to users of mobile devices. The challenges include organizational readiness, leadership and resources.
The development of a mobile app for idevices by faculty and staff in our Computer Science department several years ago created significant awareness on our campus. The iUsask project attracted a lot of attention, both on campus and off, was the subject of a presentation at last year’s CANHEIT, and demonstrated what can be done to deliver services that leverage the special features of mobile devices. The interest it has attracted reflects the growing user interest in accessing institutional services from their mobile devices.
While our central IT department (ITS) has taken on support of iUsask as an institutional service, joining universities such as MIT, Stanford, Princeton, Harvard and Michigan, we quickly realized that this was just the tip of the iceberg of what was required to support mobile service delivery on our campus. We saw that we needed both a strategy and an action plan to stimulate inspiration and innovation while simultaneously providing some measure of coordination of ad hoc development to ensure that we adequately support the rapidly growing demand. We saw that embracing the mobile revolution is about much more than the devices. It’s about providing the necessary IT environment (wireless connectivity, authentication services, support across multiple mobile platforms, etc.) and establishing design standards for a rapidly expanding community of developers.
The presenters will describe the progress we have made to address the challenges relating to the development and delivery of mobile services

In the past year University Technology Services (UTS) has virtualized lab applications using Citrix for a new campus in Burlington where no physical computer labs were built.Adding streaming servers to our existing Citrix Farm has enabled us to deliver applications through a web browser to many students on and off campus, anywhere and anytime. We will discuss why we chose Citrix, the current Citrix XenApp farm configuration, published vs streamed applications, performance, ongoing maintenance and lessons learned..

Today’s IT infrastructures have become complex and brittle, with nearly 70% of a typical IT budget dedicated to maintenance, leaving few resources to support strategic efforts and innovation. IT organizations have found themselves mired in management tools, software contracts, and procedures that have all become necessary to run the datacenter. Yet developers want the freedom to choose the application platform right for their needs, while end users expect access to their applications and data on-demand. The Cloud promises to deliver an efficient, reliable, and agile IT infrastructure to service these growing demands. VMware’s cloud computing architecture allows an IT department to enable business to be dynamic and on-demand by delivering IT as a Service.
Delivering IT as a Service gives your organization the agility it needs while retaining the stability IT departments need. The Agility/Stability Paradigm has been a major sticking point for IT departments. Businesses have begun to see IT as a necessary evil, with virtually every strategic business decision having an IT implication. Market forces continue to accelerate in every region of the world, and across every industry, putting increasing pressure on IT departments to be more responsive and help organization start competitive and pursue new opportunities.
This discussion will focus on how VMware’s Cloud Computing helps to shatter that paradigm and thrust IT back into a position of technology leadership in business. It will examine the core foundations of Cloud Computing and how VMware enables Private, Hybrid, and Public Cloud solutions to create a new, faster, more cost-effective IT department that provides all the agility your organization needs while maintaining the stability it requires.