BCNET, a not-for-profit, shared IT services consortium dedicated to higher education and research in British Columbia, revealed today how shared technology services are helping B.C.’s research universities and institutes reduce IT costs by 30 to 55 per cent. BCNET highlighted the value of integrated technology services for its higher education and research member community during the 2012 BCNET Annual General Meeting held today at SFU’S Segal School of Business in Vancouver.
“Our unique and cooperative model of sharing IT services amongst our higher education members helps alleviate financial pressure,” claims Michael Hrybyk, President and CEO of BCNET. “An example is our fibre optic advanced network service — a shared digital infrastructure — that collectively saves our core members an estimated $1.7 million annually, or 50 per cent over current market rates for the same level of dedicated
high-speed network service.”
Over the past year, BCNET facilitated an inter-institutional forum amongst members to identify the important technology issues on campuses and required solutions. Working in this collaborative setting, higher education members defined a portfolio of shared services and methods of operation.
Portfolio of Shared Services
“This year, our members required a cost-effective solution to safely and securely protect campus data. BCNET delivered an online, secondary data backup service that decreases member operating costs by 30 to 50 per cent and reduces risk by storing campus data outside the earthquake zone,” says Hrybyk. “By operating as the service integrator, we coordinate and manage contracts on behalf of our members to leverage existing campus equipment and staff. The impact for members is they are realizing significantly reduced costs, better economies of scale and lower cost of ownership.”
From 2011 to 2012, BCNET delivered a portfolio of services dedicated to the unique technology needs of its members. The cost savings range from 33 to 55 percent for the new offerings: data backup and storage, cloud videoconferencing, storage equipment procurement, Virtual Router service and NetFlow service. Additionally, BCNET operated, upgraded, expanded and improved existing core services: the fibre optic advanced network, peering, commercial Internet service and Transit Exchange services in B.C.
The details of BCNET’s accomplishments and audited financial statements are highlighted in the 2011 – 2012 BCNET Annual Report.
BCNET Members
BCNET serves 31 members at leading research universities and institutes in British Columbia:
About BCNET
BCNET is a not-for-profit, shared information technology services consortium led by its members, British Columbia’s research universities and institutes. Owned, governed and funded primarily by its members, BCNET facilitates a unique, collaborative inter-institutional environment — one based on equality and common goals — to explore and evaluate shared IT solutions for mutual technology challenges.
BCNET’s shared services approach is designed to help member institutions cut costs, minimize technology duplication, improve operational efficiency and better serve their students, faculty, staff and communities.
BCNET’s high-speed,high-capacity, fibre optic advanced network provides a common and powerful platform to deliver services cost-effectively and reliably. The network interconnects 65 higher education and research institution sites in British Columbia and 72 colleges, schools and universities through the Provincial Learning Network (PLNet)
For more information, please contact:
Tamara Klein
Communications Manager
BCNET
(604) 505-8455
tamara.klein@bc.net