Rouages: "We're one of the most used services, but also one of the most hidden".

Guaranteeing us access to the University's network and the Internet at all times, maintaining IT infrastructures, ensuring secure management of our data... Carine Lavalette and Arnaud Gavara carry out these essential tasks on a daily basis in the DSIN (Direction du système d'information et du numérique). They are system and network administrators, and this month they tell us about their work in the video series "Rouages" produced by the University.

They're one of the shadowy workers at the University. Behind every click of your mouse, behind every keystroke on your keyboard, every time you open your mailbox or access your files, it's all thanks to them. They are the system and network administrators. Within the Information Systems and Digital Department (DSIN), they form the IT Resources Department: the SMI. "The University employs almost twenty system and network administrators. We are divided into two offices, the first of which is in charge of the network, security and IP telephony, while the second is in charge of servers and storage. Paradoxically, we're one of the most-used departments at the UM, but also one of the most hidden," notes Arnaud Gavara, network and security administrator.

From versatility to greater specialization

If you don't know them, they know you and work for you. We serve everyone at the University," explains Carine Lavalette, systems administrator. Whether it's the 7,600 agents in all the departments, the lecturers in the laboratories or the 48,000 students." From Richter, their home site, they manage services for the managed IT estate of over 4,000 workstations, but also provide network access for many more devices. "If you add personal machines, those purchased with laboratory credits, telephones... That's a lot of people! We don't think about it when we log on, but if we can do it, it's because system and network administrators are behind it", says Arnaud Gavara.

Although their missions are varied, they have become highly specialized over time. Carine Lavalette works mainly on the IT system. "My job involves upgrading infrastructures and keeping them up and running to offer users the best possible service. This involves servers, storage, backups...". All in all, a mission that includes management of the UM data center, made up of 870 virtual servers, hosted by 60 physical machines known in the jargon as "pizza boxes", because they are machines that are stacked, have no keyboard or screen, and can be accessed remotely".

More recently, the department has been concentrating on a major project: the Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP). Nothing to do with the sanitary measures we've been familiar with for the past year, this involves ensuring the backup of the University's IT system in the event of a serious attack, as was the case last April. It's much more than a data backup," explains the administrator. The aim is to ensure the security of the system that allows this data to function." "Accidents can always happen, but part of our job is precisely to plan ahead - the belt, the suspenders 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 optimum security. In fact, the IT resources department is bound by the obligation to maintain the network in operational condition. Maintain the network without impacting users, or as little as possible. Keep services such as messaging constantly operational and secure.

As the two professionals remind us: "It's important to raise awareness and train University staff in security so that, for example, they don't open fraudulent e-mails. The consequences can be serious". He goes on to cite the hacking attack suffered by the UM last April: "It was the use of an account obtained by phishing that enabled a hacker to take control of some of the University's servers. Fortunately, we were able to counter this attack, but at the cost of many days' work and not without impact on the UM's operations."

A passionate profession

Arnaud Gavara is particularly fond of accompanying University staff in the design of or response to a project: "What I like is for someone to come to me with a problem to solve or a project to implement, and for that to spark off a discussion.

Both also provide user support via the service center. The ticketing system makes this a well-established operation, but according to Carine Lavalette, it also has a few drawbacks: "when they go through the service center, the agents sometimes tend to forget that we are University employees just like them". However, this does not prevent the administrator from seeing their job as a passion.

A passion into which they both declare they fell at an early age. And while this world is still not very well known for its gender diversity, Carine asserts: "I've managed to find my place in it, even if I've sometimes had to play a bit hard to get, but it also has its advantages and I really like this job. As for the qualities they feel are needed to make a good administrator? "Versatility, autonomy, logic, but above all rigor! Rigor and organization. IT is a tough job, especially when you work in the SMI and have to manage the entire network and all the University's servers," concludes Arnaud Gavara.