ElH HW

University to switch email services, UNMC to get Microsoft Exchange 2010

The University of Nebraska will soon change from its current Lotus Notes email system to Microsoft Exchange 2010 and Office 365.

The UNMC campus will migrate to Microsoft Exchange 2010 while the rest of the University of Nebraska Campuses will use Microsoft Office 365.












Updates



Regular updates about the project will be published in UNMC Today and on the ITS website.

You also can follow progress about the implementation of the new system at www.nebraska.edu/email.

Contact Yvette Holly at yholly@unmc.edu for more information about the change.




Technology dictates

The move to a new system was needed to have an email system that can keep up with rapid changes in information technology, University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken said.

“A robust, reliable, effective and secure email system is critical to the operation of the modern university,” Milliken said. “It is vital that we have an email system in place that allows us to perform … in the most efficient, cost-effective way possible. The Microsoft system will help us accomplish this goal.”

Also, it is estimated that the new email system will reduce operating costs by more than 50 percent. Presently the university spends slightly less than $1 million annually to operate its email system.

UNMC to benefit

UNMC Chancellor Harold M. Maurer, M.D., welcomed the move to a new email system.

“UNMC participated in the task force evaluating our email system and recommended migration to Microsoft Exchange 2010 that will meet our needs,” Dr. Maurer said. “We are pleased with the end result and congratulate President Milliken for his forward-looking decision.”

HIPAA a major factor

Exchange 2010 is an onsite hosted solution, while Office 365 is the comparable cloud-based solution. UNMC will implement Exchange 2010 to meet HIPAA compliance.

Employees will retain their same e-mail addresses once the switch to the new product occurs.

12 to 18 month implementation plan

The project will start soon and should last 12 to 18 months. Initial activity will focus on the development of an implementation plan to include migration methods and a project timeline.

UNMC Information Technology Services will work closely with our health care partners and university campuses throughout the implementation process.