Dr. Islam Hegazy, Director of the Network and Information Technology Center at Ain Shams University, confirmed that, thanks to the wise leadership of the President of Ain Shams University, Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, work has begun to establish a new data center for the university.

Dr. Hegazy explained that the idea stemmed from the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi towards digital transformation in various sectors of the state. From this point, Ain Shams University started with all its administration, and based on the directions of Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini to work on digital transformation, the establishment of a data center for the university began in the fall of 2019.

He added: The idea did not wait long until it actually began to be implemented, as the rebuilding of the infrastructure of the center was started in terms of the building, its equipment and its appearance, and the transfer of some of its departments and employees working in it temporarily, and this was done in April 2020, to end the construction work in February 2021.

The director of the Network and Information Technology Center at Ain Shams University said that the general structure of the modern building was built, which was designed to be environmentally friendly on the one hand, and provide all safety, security and comfort standards for its employees on the other hand, whether in terms of ventilation, lighting or ways to combat the Corona virus, in addition to Office equipment that enjoys the best specifications in order to ensure the comfort of employees to get the best productivity.

Dr. Islam Hegazy pointed out that the university leaders’ orientations were dreamy and looking beyond providing the best technological capabilities, to searching for making the data center one of the important departments in the university to help it reach its classification as one of the fourth generation universities, so the best devices were supplied in several stages to ensure good results and capabilities And appropriate specifications, and included the devices supplied during the first half of 2021, networking devices and servers, in addition to protection devices, and electronic examination devices.

Dr. Hegazy indicated that to keep pace with this technical development, it was necessary to work to raise the efficiency of the engineers and staff working in the center to ensure access to the best services in the easiest ways and the lowest costs and in the shortest possible time, so work was done to organize specialized training courses in partnership with international companies and institutions to raise the efficiency and capabilities of Engineers in many fields.

He added: Specialized training courses targeting engineers at the center were launched in the second half of 2021. Among the training aspects were knowledge of the latest technologies and the mechanism of their use, and training on modern network management software, training on modern software for server management, training on modern software to secure computer networks, in addition to a number of other accompanying training courses that contribute to raising the performance of employees in general.

The matter did not stop at this point, as new engineers were hired in the center with the best capabilities, efficiency and experience, to keep pace with the ongoing expansion and development in the center, and to raise the level of performance on the one hand, and help the old engineers on the other hand, in addition to benefiting from their great experience in various fields It's not just the data center.

He added: At the same time, work has coincided with linking all university faculties, institutes, centers, departments and sectors with the center, to ensure the provision of Internet service at the highest level on the one hand, in addition to the centralization of data and information management on the other hand.

Dr. Hegazy said that the march of progress and giving continued, so that the trial operation of the university data center began, announcing an experimental launch towards a digital future based on strategies and plans that are moving the university towards competing with major international universities to be its equal in terms of development and technological and digital efficiency.

The Director of the Network and Information Technology Center at Ain Shams University expected that the actual and general operation of the data center with all its devices, departments and projects will be officially announced during the coming period, to be a pivotal point and a major transformation in the level of services and technologies used at Ain Shams University, which makes it well deserved. The title of a fourth-generation university on the one hand, in addition to meeting the directions and strategic plan of the state towards digital transformation.

Dr. Islam Hegazy stressed that the strategic plan for the data center includes completing the digital transformation in all sectors and departments of the university gradually. In addition to providing the best technical, technological and network services in conjunction with the best protection systems for university data and information, in addition to cooperation and partnership with well-known international institutions, bodies and companies to take advantage of the latest technologies and developments and keep pace with them.