The Mason School of Business Information Technology Office provides services to the school’s faculty, staff, and students. The data center could be separated into two sections. The first section are the equipment that are accessible to general users. The second section are only accessible to the staff of IT department.
Section 1 Accessible to users
In each classroom, a computer and a control penal of projector are located at the podium. The podium is designed specifically for these equipment. The host is locked inside the podium; the monitor and control panel are attached to the podium. The key to the podium is separated from the key to the storage. Only the staff of IT department have the access to the keys. If one of the keys is lost or stolen, all the locks will be replaced and new keys will be distributed. IT department could also control the podium remotely for customer support.
There is an IP camera on the back wall of each classroom. They have two main functions. The first one is that IT department could provide customer support and services through the camera. The second function is based on security consideration. The cameras monitor all the classroom and are controlled by the IT department. The video tapes of monitor are collected and stored by an outsourcing company from Richmond on a weekly basis.
The finance market classroom is located on the first floor. The classroom is equipped with more technical installments. If the computer and televisions are impaired by a flood or other water-related damage, all the impaired equipment should be recorded and reported even if they could still function.
Another room equipped with high technical installations is Brinkley Commons. Two projection walls and two podiums are installed. Some of the audio and sound systems are installed into the high ceilings. Brinkley commons is often accessible to the public, thus the equipment installed in the ceilings are secured from theft and impairment. But for IT department staff, it is difficult for staff to keep daily maintenance or to repair any dysfunction. Potential safety risk exists.
I would recommend security camera to be installed outside these rooms in the hallway. It would monitor any entrance and exit to these places and provide more control over the IT equipment. Secondly, access code could be implemented into the computer in addition to regular WM logins. The access code could only be acquired from IT department online by request so that the staff would have better monitor over the equipment in these rooms which are easily accessible to the public. Thirdly, all the monitors should be connected to the campus police department so that the police department could react to safety emergency quickly and effectively.

Section 2 Accessible to staff only
The Crestron AV system is located in a storage in the back of the classroom. The storage is secured by a regular door lock. Only the staff of IT department have the access to the Creston AV system. Since the system does not generate substantial heat, there is no radiator required or necessary within the system. The system is used and needed by instructor on a daily basis, thus there are spare equipment prepared by the IT department in order to ensure the operation of activities. Furthermore, the Creston AV system also have overnight replacement warranty. So if any dysfunction or impairment occurred, the system could be replaced overnight.
The main data frame (MDF) is located in the basement (room 0045). The door to the main data frame is secured by an electronic lock which can only be unlocked by ID card. Only the staff member of IT department have the access to the main data frame. Inside the main data frame, there is AC system which is used to cool down the temperature of the machine. And an office desk equipped with IP phone is prepared for staff member. IT department monitors the main data frame on daily basis.
There is mini version of MDF which is called intermediate data frame (IDF). For each floor (except basement), there are two intermediate data frames. Each of them is located on the each swing. The door of IDF is secured by a regular lock. Keys are only accessible to IT department. The data frame machine is covered with cable, switches and wires. The intermediate data frame is connected to MDF. And the data communication between these two data frames is two way.
The server room is located. The door is locked and equipped with card swipe. ID cards are only accessible to data center staffs. The room is monitored by security camera and the staff of IT department has live feed stream of the room. There are more than 20 servers in the server room. The servers are separated into two categories: database server and virtual server. The servers are secured and protected with glass surface. Each server has a temperature reader which shows the temperature of each separate server. Once the temperature reaches the high point over 95- 100 degree, the temperature will show the alarm signs. In addition, there are two larger AC systems located in the room in order to blow the air and to lower the temperature of systems. One of the AC is redundant and works as a backup system. In accordance to the power source, which is essential to the whole data center, the server room has its own power generator. And there is a backup generator prepared for emergency. Once the main generator stops functioning, the system would detect the absence of power source and switch to the backup generator automatically in order to secure the operation of server system. There is a built-in elevator inside the server room. It is locked by an electronic lock and only accessible to staff members with ID cards.
For server room, I would recommend a security camera to be installed inside the elevator. And the camera should also be connected to the existing monitor system. Secondly, since a storage room is under construction, many equipment and materials are currently piled beside the server system. I would recommend that these spare materials should be organized and stored in a spare room to reduce the potential safety risk. And the spare room should also be locked and only accessible to IT staff members.