Enhanced, pooled ------------------------- information systems Optimizing IT resources, simplifying daily life in laboratories, and promoting partnerships with universities: to achieve these ambitious goals, CNRS improved the organization and performance of its information systems in 2011. T a lengthy process which is now bearing fruit. ‘The purpose of this ‘The objective is to simplify laboratories’ daily operations by reducing(processing and storage capacity), secure email management, etc.wo years ago, CNRS decided to update its information systems, initiative was threefold: ‘optimizing the use of IT resources to offset hardware constraints, tightening security, and improving service avai- tight budget constraints and improve security; meeting laboratories’ lability,’ Jean-Marc Voltini adds. ‘Units will thus be able to concentrate needs for collaborative work and for exchanging information; and on their core business: research.’ making the IT tools and services developed for CNRS units available to our partners,’ says Jean-Marc Voltini, Director of the CNRS Information In parallel with these projects, the organization of the DSI was over- Systems Department (DSI). hauled in 2011. Specialized teams provide their expertise in all DSI activities: application maintenance and user support, engineering and operations, organization and methods, etc. IT security was also put Three main projects by 2012 under scrutiny. ‘Scientific data is CNRS’s heritage and it must be pro- tected. We took advantage of the reorganization to appoint a CNRS In 2011, CNRS teams were actively working on three major projects Information Security Officer—a new position—and set up a Network launched in 2010. The first is Geslab, the ‘universal’ laboratory finan- Architecture, Assessment and Support Center in charge of providing cial management tool. ‘Over 90% of CNRS units have multiple supervi- services, advice, and training to laboratories. In 2011, the DSI also sory authorities—and therefore several administrative systems,’ Jean- issued recommendations on encryption for portable computers, and Marc Voltini points out. ‘It only makes sense to have a single tool that extra measures will be taken in 2012. We need to sustain our effort, is compatible with the systems of our main sponsoring authorities, as and remain focused.’ frequently requested by laboratory managers. Our partners are on the same wavelength, and a work protocol between the AMUE1, the CPU2, 1. France’s Universities and Higher-Education Institutions Mutualization Agency. and CNRS was signed to that effect in May 2011. Workgoups were 2. Conference of University Presidents. set up to determine how best to establish this pooled management system, and the first part will be up and running in the summer of 2012.’ The second main project is the creation of CORE, a joint plat- form allowing CNRS laboratories and their partners to easily share and exchange information on projects, calls for proposals, collaborations, researchers, laboratories, conferences, etc., thus providing a secure alternative to Interface operators. The third project focuses on provi- ding potentially interested laborato- A pioneering regional office ries with cloud-based infrastructure ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- and security services. These will Paris B is one of the first CNRS regional offices to have defined an Information System Security Policy include server hosting and opera- (PSSI). Since 2009, it has worked closely with Pierre and Marie Curie University and the École Normale tion services, IT energy on demand Supérieure to extend this approach to joint research units. ‘A workgroup was set up to develop a procedure allowing each unit to draft its own PSSI according to its specific constraints,’ says Christine d’Argouges, Regional Representative for Paris B. ‘We also carried out joint actions in the laboratories to raise awareness and provide training.’ This ‘PSSI kit’ was tested in pilot units, presented during the 2011 French Academic Networking Days (JRES)*, and proposed to all CNRS units. Meanwhile, all three partners continued to work together. Their priority for 2011 was the encryption of sensitive data. They also weighed the creation of a Regional Inter-Supervisory Authority Coordination Committee for information system security. * This event, organized every two years by the Renater Public Interest Group, CNRS, the University Network Committee, and Inria, is intended for IT and networking professionals in France. 74 A year at CNRS 2011
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