Rouages: "We are one of the most used services, but also one of the most hidden."
Guaranteeing access to the University network and the internet at all times, maintaining IT infrastructure, ensuring secure data management... These are just some of the tasks that Carine Lavalette and Arnaud Gavara perform on a daily basis within the Information and Digital Systems Department (DSIN), which are essential to the fulfillment of our own tasks. They are system and network administrators, and this month they talk to us about their jobs in the video series "Rouages" produced by the University.
They are among the unsung heroes of the University. Behind every click of your mouse, every keystroke on your keyboard, every time you open your email or access your files, it is thanks to them. They are the system and network administrators. Within the Information Systems and Digital Technology Department (DSIN), they form the IT Resources Service (SMI). "The University employs around twenty system and network administrators. We are divided into two offices, the first is in charge of the network, security, and IP telephony, and the second office is in charge of the server and storage system. Paradoxically, we are one of the most used services but also one of the most hidden within the UM," notes Arnaud Gavara, network and security administrator.
From versatility to greater specialization
Even if you don't know them, they know you and work for you. "We serve everyone at the University," explains Carine Lavalette, system administrator. "Whether it's the 7,600 staff members in all departments, the Professors the laboratories, or the 48,000 students. " From their base at Richter, they manage services for more than 4,000 workstations, but also provide network access for many more devices. "If you add in personal computers, those purchased with laboratory funds, phones... That's a lot of people! We don't think about it when we log on, but if we can do so, it's because system and network administrators are behind the scenes," Arnaud Gavara points out.
Although their tasks are varied, they have become increasingly specialized over time. Carine Lavalette works mainly on the IT system. "My job is to develop the infrastructure and keep it running smoothly to provide users with the best possible service. This involves servers, storage, backups, and so on." Overall, her role includes managing the UM data center, which consists of 870 virtual servers hosted by 60 physical machines known in the jargon as "pizza boxes," because they are stacked machines with no keyboard or screen that are accessed remotely.
More recently, the department has been focusing on a major project: the disaster recovery plan (DRP). This has nothing to do with the health measures we have been familiar with for the past year; rather, it involves ensuring that the University's IT system is protected in the event of a serious attack, as was the case last April. "It's much more than just data backup," explains the administrator. "The goal is to ensure the security of the system that allows this data to function." "Accidents can always happen, but part of our job is to plan ahead, to provide the seatbelt, the shoulder straps, and the parachute!" adds Arnaud Gavara.
Safety, assistance, and service
Although their specialties set them apart, Carine Lavalette and Arnaud Gavara share the same concern for optimal security. The IT department is bound by the obligation to maintain operational conditions. This means ensuring network maintenance without impacting users, or impacting them as little as possible. It also means keeping services such as email constantly operational and secure.
Moreover, both professionals emphasize: "It is important to raise awareness and train university staff in security so that, for example, they do not open fraudulent emails. The consequences can be serious." They cite the cyberattack on UM last April: "A hacker used an account obtained through phishing to take control of some of the university's servers. Fortunately, we were able to counter this attack, but it took many days of work and had an impact on UM's operations."
A passionate profession
Supporting university staff in designing or responding to a project is another part of their role that Arnaud Gavara particularly enjoys: "What I like is when someone comes to me with a problem to solve or a project to implement, and it sparks a discussion."
Both of them also provide user support via the service center. This system works well thanks to the ticket system, but according to Carine Lavalette, it also has some drawbacks, since "when they go through the service center, agents sometimes tend to forget that we are University employees just like them." This does not prevent the administrators from considering their job a passion.
It's a passion that they both say they fell in love with at a young age. And while this world is still relatively unknown for its diversity, Carine affirms, "I've been able to make a place for myself, even if I've sometimes had to elbow my way in a little, but that also has its advantages, and I really love this job." " What qualities do they believe are necessary to be a good administrator? "Versatility, autonomy, logic, but above all, rigor! Rigor and organization. IT is unforgiving, especially when you work in the MIS and are responsible for managing the entire network and all of the university's servers," concludes Arnaud Gavara.