Managing the Academic Computing Infrastructure in the Age of Automation

The computing infrastructure of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Wisconsin-Superior has evolved from a system that depended primarily on manual effort, to a system that relies heavily on automation. No single decision mandated automation; instead, automation came about as means to manage complex deployments, provide new capabilities, and utilize scarce resources. The computing infrastructure fulfills an operational need and serves as an educational resource, but the transition has incurred tradeoffs and unintended consequences. This paper presents the author’s observations and experiences now that automation plays a predominate role in the computing infrastructure. Relevant factors provide the context in which priorities changed and automation arose to address managerial challenges. The paper highlights abilities, skills, and technologies that drive the move to automate systems. Finally, examples illustrate how automation has shifted the balance between the operational and educational roles the system has traditionally fulfilled.