UNIVERSITY of GLASGOW

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Standard Staff Desktop (SSD)

Last reviewed: 29/03/11

Description

The SSD is a complete PC (desktop or laptop) software solution for Colleges, Schools, Services and individuals that provides standard computing facilities eg: electronic mail, web browsing, document preparation, etc. and is a base onto which user, subject, School and/or College specific software can be added. The Email diary and collaboration service grouping can also be included.

Why adopt Standard Staff Desktop (SSD)?

  • Centrally funded - no additional charge to Colleges for the standard service.
  • A core University service - high priority maintenance and support.
  • Avoids the time, effort and cost of developing, maintaining and supporting local equivalents, freeing College IT staff for College-specific activities.
  • Single service across campus provides economies of scale and infrastructure.
  • Available 24x7x52 (subject to occasional planned maintenance).
  • Future improvements and facilities will be seamlessly integrated.
  • Antivirus and patching updates provided centrally thereby reducing risks to less technical users.
  • File store securely backed up.
  • On-site technical expertise.
  • Covered by IT Services Disaster Recovery Plan. 

Features

  • Configurable- incorporate College specific software requirements.
  • Training and support available.
  • Authentication to a common campus directory service (Active Directory)
    • same access control for other IT Services eg VPN, Moodle, TAS, HR self service etc
    • avoids need for College user account generation and maintenance
  • User mobility and hot-desking.
  • User data stored on a fileserver - workstation stores only software and is thus expendable.
  • Email is stored on a mail server thus allowing users to deal with email from off-campus.
  • Can be installed on laptop systems.
  • Can be installed (and reinstalled) quickly and easily.
  • User can use any other SSD system of the same release and get their own environment.

Included Software

Software bundles depend on the variant of SSD that is used. The lists are snapshots of the software manifests on launch but are continually reviewed and updated on the live service.

SSD5 software
SSD7 software

Service definitions

The Service definition entries provide details for end users including availability, service adoption and support.

Support 

helpdesk@it.gla.ac.uk

Help Desk
IT Services
(0141 330) x4800