The University’s Digital Infrastructure Programme (DIP) is a key part of Sussex’s Capital Programme and critical to our ongoing digital transformation.But what is it exactly, and how will it help staff and students?  

In a nutshell - the programme will lay the foundations for new digital services to help boost staff and student experience. It will give them the use of modern, sustainable, integrated and secure infrastructure, modernising our telephony, moving us to cloud-based computer services and improving access to software.  

All of this is being delivered via three distinct sub-projects; Telephony Modernisation; Cloud Enablement; and Cloud Transformation. 

Telephony Modernisation 

Telephony Modernisation is the first of the three DIP sub-projectsto move towards full delivery, and the chances are you’ve already heard of it. It aims to shift all colleagues over from outdated and increasingly unsupported Sype for Business and desk-based landlines to Teams Calling - the new functionality for making phone calls inside and outside of the University via MS Teams.  

Status: The project is now halfway through the implementation phase with most PS divisions now moved to Teams Calling. The focus has now shifted to Schools and School PS teams with this last part of the rollout set to take place between February and June 2024 as set out below. 

Cloud projects (including Cloud Enablement and Cloud Transformation) 

As well as updating our telephony systems, we also want to modernise our approach to digital infrastructure. To do this, Sussex will be moving from fully on-site computing services to a mix of on-site and cloud-based services. Moving to this way of working won’t affect the way you use your applications day to day, but it will ensure better data security, more adaptability, speed and scalability and improved sustainability, as well as enabling better team collaboration through improved data access.    

Cloud Enablement 

The Cloud Enablement project will move us to a modern,cloud-based ‘backup’ data storage facility, replacing much of the existing on-campus tape library.  

Status: A supplierhas been selected to work with us and we’re now moving into the implementation phase of the project. This is expected to be completed by mid-summer this year. Once finished, we’ll be able to recover lost data more quickly, consistently and securely.  

Cloud Transformation 

The Cloud Transformation project will give us an all-new server and service infrastructure to underpin the University’s digital applications for the next five to seven years.  

Status:  An external partnerhas been commissioned to work with us on a project blueprint. The blueprint and project business case are expected to be complete during 2024 with implementation expected in 2025. Once the project is complete, IT Services will be able to respond more quickly to changing needs across the University.  

Find out more 

You can find out more about DIP and what it means for you on our Digital Infrastructure Programme webpages.