IT Transformation
In September 2021, Virginia Tech conducted a university-wide review of information technology operations and information security. From this review the IT Transformation Program was formed as a comprehensive effort to reshape and strengthen IT operations, career pathways, security and services across the university.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Information technology is integral to Virginia Tech’s ability to achieve its ambitious Beyond Boundaries vision and priorities. It is imperative that the university develop a more effective, coordinated and responsive IT operating model that closely aligns with the university’s changing needs. Across the administrative and academic enterprises, the institution’s long-term success relies on how well we do this.
With this in mind, the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors charged the Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (EVPCOO) to assess the current state of IT at the university. In September 2021, the university engaged Deloitte to conduct a thorough university-wide review of information technology operations and security. Based upon these findings, leaders in the Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer, the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, the Office of the Vice President for Information Technology and CIO, and other key stakeholders at Virginia Tech have developed a prioritized, Virginia Tech-specific IT Transformation program.
Charged by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors in June 2021 to assess the current state of IT at the university, the Office of the Executive Vice President and Chief Business Officer engaged Deloitte to conduct a thorough university-wide review of information technology operations and security. The review began in September 2021 and ran through the fall semester. It focused on the following domains:
- IT Governance
- IT Finance
- IT Talent
- Technology Capabilities
- Service Management
- Cybersecurity
Deloitte’s report was structured around these domains and includes detailed analyses, recommendations, a roadmap, and a draft implementation plan to execute the report’s recommendations.
Deloitte Report Sections:
- Current State Assessment, Case for Change (PDF)
- Current State Assessment, Cybersecurity Review (PDF)
- Future State Recommendations and Proposed Roadmap (PDF)
IT Transformation university-wide launch (recorded Feb. 3, 2022) | Slides (PDF)
In 2025, Virginia Tech faces a complex set of technology opportunities and challenges that require a new IT strategy and operating model. The emergence of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), changing information security risks, competition for IT talent, and ever-present financial constraints necessitate new approaches.
True IT Governance, a key capability for effective IT strategy, promotes integration and collaborative decision-making that integrates institutional policy, IT project management, and constructive IT planning. Created in 2024, the IT Governance, Planning, and Strategy (IT GPS) unit within the Division of Information Technology will provide the foundational capability to enable university leaders, IT experts, and stakeholders to bring university strategic needs, ideas, and specifications into the planning, procurement, and management of IT solutions. IT GPS now includes project managers, technology and enterprise architects, business analysts, and change management experts that will significantly enhance Virginia Tech’s foundational and innovative efforts in IT.
As part of the transition to Virginia Tech’s IT Strategic Plan, the IT Transformation website will be archived and replaced with the IT Strategic Plan site. Many projects that were a part of IT Transformation are complete and are already a component of ongoing IT operations. IT Transformation projects that are ongoing, or which tie into developing aspects of our IT Strategy will merge into a four year IT strategic planning process (FY2026 – FY2030). Details about the new IT Strategic Plan are being provided as part of the IT Strategic Plan update at the June 2025 Board of Visitors meeting.
Projects
Several projects under IT Transformation are complete and have moved to ongoing IT operations and continuous improvement efforts within the division. Other projects are merging into the IT Strategic Planning process.
Completed projects
Establish a university-wide IT Governance model
Establish university-wide IT project management office and IT enterprise architecture functions
Streamline and improve IT procurement
Revise the organizational structure within DoIT to streamline reporting and establish additional capabilities
Implement a 24x7 Security Operations Center
Improved Endpoint Protection
Elevate Virginia Tech's Minimum Security Standards
Develop Procedure Guides to Augment the Minimum Security Standards for IG1 compliance
Develop Procedure Guides to Augment the Minimum Security Standards for IG2 compliance
Establish an IT Strategic Plan for Virginia Tech
Projects merging into the IT Strategic Plan (2025 – 2029)
Within Strategic Theme #2 – Modernize and optimize administrative applications and data platforms
Optimize funding model to centrally fund more commodity IT services and simplify cost-recovery
Rationalize application portfolio across VT
Establish data center consolidation strategy and explore enhancing cloud capabilities
Define strategy for effectively adopting managed services and SaaS solutions
Within Strategic Theme #3 – Improve the IT customer experience
Enhance maturity of core ITSM processes to enable service delivery and improve the customer experience
Implement university-wide Configuration Management Database (CMDB) processes and tool
Within Strategic Theme #4 – Expand capabilities to use, manage, and protect data
Deploy a common integration layer to enhance data sharing across systems
Within Strategic Theme #5 – Strengthening technology and data governance
Define the university-wide IT Operating Model
Enhance Data Governance to enable greater access, reporting, quality & classification over data roles
Maturing Identity and Access Management