Reference
Services and Support for Students and Research
University of Augsburg
Reference
Founded in 1970 to provide integrated arts and sciences instruction grounded in active research, the University of Augsburg has undergone significant development in recent decades. Initially focused on law, economics, social sciences, and the humanities, the university has steadily expanded its programs in the natural and technical sciences.
Today, 20,000 students and 3,500 employees work, study, and teach at the university. Tobias Kauth and the Service & Support staff operate a centralized IT help desk and are part of a 13-member Data Center team that provisions, maintains, and develops the university’s IT infrastructure.
Reducing software distribution workloads through standardization
We use the baramundi Management Suite not only to manage those devices but also to distribute software updates and configurations to 4,250 Windows devices and 500 other device types across the university. baramundi’s consistent, intuitive operation and automation capabilities enable us to deploy and update software on those systems efficiently. We manage nearly all standard Office applications and package and install updates for specialized software used in teaching, administration, and research. The baramundi system reduces both the number of tools and the amount of work required to manage specialized software.
baramundi is a fundamental building block for addressing IT challenges
IT administrators across university departments previously used various client management systems, including SCCM, OPSI, and baramundi. In 2018, the data center began using baramundi to manage IT workstations. Following a proof of concept, we decided to implement baramundi across all the facilities we support to standardize client management.
„...The ability to manage and automate sophisticated processes with a high degree of flexibility won us over. IT administrators can use baramundi to build and manage complex systems and workflows, while support staff can use it to manage routine tasks. In baramundi, we found a partner that understands our needs and can provide immediate, targeted support.”
Tobias Kauth, Team Lead Service & Support, University Augsburg
baramundi-Intune co-management
We are also using baramundi to implement several major projects, including migrating hybrid AD/Entra ID devices to Entra ID. In addition to changing our Microsoft management infrastructure, we’re using baramundi’s Intune co-management capabilities to enroll new clients in both management systems simultaneously.
We are also transitioning network access to certificate-based access via IEEE 802.1x. A cornerstone of the transition is the reliable distribution of certificates to a large number of devices running different operating systems. We’re using baramundi as a configuration and control tool with a single interface to simplify distribution, monitor periodic renewals, and revoke access if necessary.
Conclusion
The University of Augsburg has a wide range of endpoint hardware and software requirements for workstations used in research, teaching, student life, and administration. Endpoints include:
- Linux systems used in research,
- Windows laptops running Office and other applications,
- macOS systems, and
- iOS mobile devices.
The baramundi Management Suite greatly simplifies our workflows and makes daily IT support easier.