Background
The JISC Monitoring Unit, funded by JISC and reporting to the Services Group within JISC, supports JISC policy and planning by providing a quality assurance role in monitoring the performance of JISC Services.
The Unit monitors JISC’s network infrastructure and network content services by collecting regular data submissions from each. Annual surveys in each of the two key areas are also conducted in order to provide a user-centric focus of perceived quality. Reports on overall performance, including trends and significant incidents, are sent to JISC on a quarterly and annual basis. In addition, special studies are undertaken that draw on the data accumulated by the Unit. Where appropriate the Unit also makes recommendations on matters requiring technical audit or other more detailed investigations.
The Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and related Service Level documents established between JISC and the monitored services are maintained by the Unit, which also maintains the Change Control procedure. The Unit is also involved in the annual revision of MoUs for JANET(UK) (operators of the JANET network and ancillary services) and the JISC data centres (EDINA and Mimas).
The JISC funds JANET (the Joint Academic Network) and an extensive range of high quality networked content services to support research and education within the Higher and Further Education and research sectors.
The JANET data communications network is the part of the Internet which connects and supports the data communication requirements of the UK Higher and Further Education and Research Council communities. This currently comprises around 750 primary sites with a large number of indirectly supported smaller sites connected through those.
JISC services, which are delivered over JANET, are primarily hosted by Higher Education institutions. These include electronic information services (of wide diversity such as bibliographic and geospatial resources) and network services such as mailing lists and videoconferencing services.
JISC services are heavily used by every Higher Education institution and Research Council and by most Further Education colleges.
For more information about the JISC, please visit the JISC homepage.
