Shared Data Centers: Something old and something new

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Presenter Name: 
Tim Brown

The idea of sharing a data center within an institution is very common, where various academic, administrative, or research units share the costs of a very specialized facility and its resources. However, with the current push toward cloud computing and utility based services, these resources can be shared by multiple institutions and organizations, providing a true cost sharing environment akin to a "computing co-op." An example of such a facility within the State of Florida is the Northwest Regional Data Center, which provides services for universities, community and state colleges, as well as state, county, and city governments.

Presenter Info
Presenter Bio: 

Tim was appointed as the Director of the Northwest Regional Data Center (NWRDC) on April 9, 2008. He brings over 15 years of IT experience to the organization, focused in IT strategic planning, budgeting, building and leading support and development teams in academic setting. Prior to this position, he served as Associate Vice President of Information Technology Division at Middle Tennessee State University since 2005. Tim’s experience also highlights key management positions with University of Alabama at Birmingham from, serving as the Director of IT Infrastructure Services from 2001 to 2005, and Associate Director for Computer Services from 1993 to 2001. Tim earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University, and his master degree on Health Informatics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In addition, he is a certified Information Systems Security Professional and certified NetWare Engineer and Administrator.