ICT Developments

The ICT-KM Program continually looks for ways of developing or adopting ICT to streamline CGIAR processes, increase online  security and generally enable staff to work more efficiently. Below are some of the more significant ICT developments that took place in the past 12 months. Check back for further updates!

Strategic Technologies for the CGIAR in 2009
In 2008, the ICT-KM Program developed a “Strategic Technologies for the CGIAR in 2009” paper that was analyzed with the IT Managers community to present a rational framework for deciding how best to improve IT in the CGIAR as a System, and in Centers individually.

Google Apps Case Study
Google Apps was tried out as a suite of collaboration tools through a successful case study that resulted in the Program implementing the new CGXchange 2.0 based on Google Apps Education Edition in 2009.

Enterprise Security Good Practices
The ICT-KM Program and the CGIAR’s Internal Audit Unit coordinated the development of six Enterprise Security Good Practice documents as a minimum common base for the CGIAR Centers.

Spam Filters
Almost 90% of the almost 90 million messages sent to the CGIAR in the second quarter of 2008 were spam, 7% were viruses and only 5% (that’s right, only 5%, but still 1.39 million) were valid  … and these are the only ones that came into our mailboxes. The dangers of not having a good “gatekeeper” that allows only the “good e-mails” in were revealed in this Symantec press release.

Active Directory Evaluation and Health Check
The Program is currently evaluating the CGIAR’s Active Directory and will carry out a health check. A report to be produced towards the ends of September 2009 will include recommendations for improvement.

Single Sign-on (SSO) with Google Apps – CGXchange
Implementation of the LDAP Sync and Single sign-on (SSO) has begun for Google Apps, afterwhich CGIAR users will be able to login to CGXchange 2.0 using the same network username and password.

ICT Infopoint
ICT Infopoint is a public resource under CGXchange 2.0 that aims to provide useful ICT information targetting CGIAR staff located at HQ and regional offices. It includes ICT self-training materials, Center Help Desk contact information, case studies, good practice guides, software arrangements, links to CGIAR-wide applications, and relevant ICT tips.