Year in review

To better support the research community's needs, we delivered significant upgrades to our computational and data infrastructure.

• New high-performance computing environments – We launched the new LASER environment compliant with NIST 800-171 standards for handling sensitive data. We also migrated the O2 cluster — over 400 hosts — to a more modern, supportable operating system.
• Modernized research data storage – We migrated 40 petabytes of research data to a simplified, more efficient architecture. This project ensures sustainable storage for research and is projected to save the School $40 million.
• Advanced AI and data tools – To support advanced analytics, a new Azure AI platform was launched and secured for Level 4 data. The Delphi data warehouse was expanded with 10 new data sources, and our BI team delivered 121 new dashboards, giving departments a clearer view of their data.
• Streamlined core facility management – We onboarded three new core facilities to the Research Cores Management System (PPMS), which now processes $12 million in revenue annually across 28 cores.

We focused on delivering tools that directly support the educational mission, making teaching more effective and reducing administrative burdens.

• Expanded access to faculty development – The new Canvas Catalog platform solved a key challenge by providing affiliates with easier access to training. In its first six months, it hosted 30 courses with over 600 enrollments.
• Upgraded clinical skills center – The center was improved with new high-resolution cameras and streamlined control software. This enhances skill assessment, allows for clear remote observation, and increases the reliability of the 16-exam room system.
• Improved student support systems – We delivered PROGRESS, a new case management system for the Program in Medical Education (PME), which allows student advisors and faculty to better collaborate in assisting students.
• Reduced administrative workload – By creating self-service forms in My.Harvard, we eliminated hundreds of hours of manual data entry for HMS staff. Over 3,400 forms were completed by students and faculty last year, with that number on track to reach 10,000.

From faster IT help to better meeting rooms, we made concrete improvements to help make your workday smoother and more productive.

• Faster, more efficient IT support – We significantly improved our response times while shifting 3,000 support tickets to our front-line teams. This allows our engineers to focus on more complex issues while you get help faster.
• New hybrid collaboration spaces – To support flexible work, we deployed 18 technology-enabled collaboration rooms in Gordon Hall, allowing users to easily connect via Teams or Zoom with in-room hardware and wireless sharing.
• Modernized websites – The code behind the main HMS flagship website and 35 microsites was modernized to improve performance, security, and user experience.
• Streamlined administrative platforms – We implemented Marketing Cloud as a School-wide messaging platform. We rolled out the Quad Personnel Information (QPI) system to help labs manage personnel data not captured elsewhere.

Our security teams worked to make HMS a leader in information security at Harvard.

• Drastically reduced attack surface – We decreased the number of publicly discoverable systems with critical vulnerabilities by 90% and increased the number of websites protected by a firewall by over 1,000%.
• Proactive threat discovery – Our team discovered a critical, decade-old vulnerability that was being actively exploited across Harvard. We developed and provided the fix to the University, protecting countless accounts.
• Achieved key compliance milestones – The LASER secure research environment achieved CMS certification, confirming that it meets stringent security and privacy controls. We also rose to the highest rank in the University's CIO vulnerability report.
• Secured more accounts – We implemented Okta two-factor authentication (2FA) for the PPMS research core system, adding a critical layer of security for its 9,700 users.

Modernizing our core technology foundation has made our systems more efficient and sustainable, allowing savings to be reinvested in the School's mission.

• Major data center migration – A massive project to migrate our data center was completed entirely by our internal staff. This effort reduces our annual operating costs by 40% and our physical footprint by 60%, with projected savings of $30 million over ten years.
• Long-term financial discipline – Through major projects and efforts like reducing unused phone and fax lines, we reduced our total budget by nearly $10 million. This puts the School on a trajectory to save $100 million over the next decade.
• Transparent upgrades – We executed major upgrades to our critical virtual infrastructure and network platforms completely transparently, ensuring minimal service disruptions for end-users.