SADA Systems and Wagner College

One of the first 10 Google Apps for Enterprise partners worldwide and initial contributor to the Google Apps Open Source provisioning tool kit, SADA Systems, Inc. has developed an proven track record in successful implementations of Google Apps solutions for the higher education market. SADA works closely its clients to create custom, leading edge solutions that strategically meet their business and institutional objectives.

Located in Staten Island, New York, Wagner College has distinguished itself for over 100 years. Founded in 1883 as a Proseminary for Lutheran ministers, Wagner College has grown into a national leader in Liberal Arts education. Today over 2,000 students in over 30 academic programs and four graduate departments attend Wagner.

Challenges

When the project with Wagner College started, SADA worked closely with the client to develop a set of requirements. At the beginning, the client had not yet configured a Google Apps Education Edition account, so the first order of business was to assist with the configuration of their account and setting up Google Apps on their domain. In the discovery process for the project SADA and the client worked together to determine the following:

• The set up of the Google Apps account would require configuring it to work with a pre-existing domain.
• The client required a dual delivery configuration during the transition period.
• Project coordination required the creation of a Google Site to manage all details.
  

Solution

After developing a clear set of requirements, SADA worked in partnership with the client to ensure the smooth transition of their existing mail solution to Google Apps. Set up of the Google Apps Education Edition account was completed through SADA's Quickstart service.

• Migration of contacts made use of our custom contact migration tool.
  
• Email migration was handled through IMAP.
  
• Calendar information was migrated using Google Calendar Connectors.
  
• To ensure that no messages were missed, SADA enabled dual-delivery to Google Apps and Exchange.

Result

With SADA's assistance and the implementation of best-of-breed utilities for the deployment of Google Apps, Wagner College was able to smoothly and effectively implement Google Apps for their students and faculty. This implementation of Google Apps will allow Wagner College to gradually transition away from their Exchange mail system, while continuing to provide their users with email service.

"Today we concluded the migration to Google Apps, and I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for the hard work and late hours that your engineers put in. They went above and beyond the call of duty on this project. This was a huge deal for us and I always felt that we were in good hands. I know your team lost quite a few nights and a few weekends to get this done on our schedule and I admire the personal responsibility they took to meet our needs."

- Frank Cafasso, Network Operations, Wagner College

LTech and The College of Southern Idaho

Company Overview
LTech is a leading cloud technology integrator and search solutions provider established in 2001. As an early Google Enterprise Partner, LTech has successfully completed dozens of Google Apps deployments and Google Search Appliance configurations.

The College of Southern Idaho, established in 1965, is a public 2-year community college located in Twin Falls, Idaho. The school has approximately 7,000 undergraduate students, and offers associate and technical certificates in over 115 subjects.

Challenge
The College of Southern Idaho needed a way to improve communication between all students and staff on campus. Tired of expensive software licenses and limited storage space, they decided to switch their email system to Google Apps Education Edition for its superior webmail interface, integrated chat and calendar, and document sharing capabilities. CSI also wanted students to have more flexibility when logging in to their system. They came to LTech with a concept that would let students choose their login name from a list of options.

Solution

After deploying Google Apps, LTech worked with CSI to determine a custom Single Sign-On solution that would meet their needs. Within two weeks, LTech developed and implemented an on-demand provisioning system that would sample each student's name and generate a list of name combinations. When a student provisions their email for the first time, they can log in with their student ID number and then choose an email address from the list of identity options.

Results

By moving to Google Apps, CSI could provide their students with increased storage space and better collaboration tools. Since Google offers free server storage and maintenance to colleges, they were able to free up time and resources to focus on other computing objectives. LTech's Single Sign-On customization work was completed just in time for the CSI summer '09 semester.

"LTech was able to provide us development expertise that we enjoyed working with. We were able to brainstorm well with them, good give and take, with solid professional recommendations from them." - Jay Sneddon, Data Services Director

SADA Systems and Louisiana State University

One of the first 10 Google Apps for Enterprise partners worldwide and initial contributor to the Google Apps Open Source provisioning tool kit, SADA Systems, Inc. has a proven track record in the implementation of Google Apps solutions.  SADA works with a diverse client base to create custom, leading edge solutions that strategically meet client business objectives.

Founded in 1860, Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public, co-educational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and is the main campus of the Louisiana State University System. Enrollment is approximately 32,000 students and the staff stands at over 2,000 members including 1,300 full-time faculty members.  

Challenges

Previously LSU had conducted a pilot deployment of Google Apps on a test domain.  While LSU's IT staff had completed a significant portion of the deployment process, they determined that engaging a Google Apps Enterprise Partner such as SADA would more easily and effectively accomplish the provisioning and data migration component of the project.  LSU's implementation  encompassed 35,000 to 40,000 users in two phased deployments.  The first phase migrated about 38,000 while the second deployment involved 2,200 VIP and other select users, divided into smaller groups and rolled out per a schedule provided by the client.  

The successful deployment of Google Apps at LSU required SADA to do the following: 

• Work with the client's combined identity management environment including both a Lotus Domino Directory and Microsoft Active Directory. 
  
• Provision accounts for all users as detailed in the scope of the deployment.
  
• Access the client's existing email configuration which consisted of a hosted Outblaze/Qmail server. 
  
• Migrate email data to Google Apps from the client's Outblaze/Qmail configuration. This applied only to the second group of users in the provisioning plan.     

Solution

SADA worked closely with LSU to devise a deployment plan that would meet all of the client's requirements.  Below is a summary of the work completed by SADA to successfully implement Google Apps.

• Accounts were provisioned making use of a CSV file provided by the client and SADA's provisioning tools.  This file included each user's first name, last name, and user name.  
  
• For the second part of the provisioning process a schedule was established that allowed SADA and LSU to provision accounts in the second group into smaller groups, according to the requirements of the client.  
  
• To complete the email data migration component of the project, SADA helped the client plan, and then configure and execute an IMAP email data migration process.  
  
• Additional local email data could be migrated on a per-user basis, making use of the Google Email Uploader tool-set.

Result

With SADA's assistance and the implementation of best-of-breed utilities for the deployment of Google Apps, Louisiana State University was able to smoothly and effectively implement Google Apps for over 40,000 users in their two groups.  This implementation of Google Apps will allow LSU to dismantle their hosted Outblaze/Qmail email solution, without interruption to email service for their students, faculty, and staff.  Improvements to the level of administrative overhead have made it possible for the client's IT department to free up resources and focus on critical objectives.

"We are pleased with the expertise and professionalism of SADA Systems with helping our University move legacy messages from a Linux webmail system to our Google Apps domain. There were a few hiccups due to corrupted messages but our SADA consultant identified these hold ups and fixed each incident on a case by case basis. What attention to detail! 

Our University has gone through other email migration projects in the past but this one by far has been the easiest with SADA on our project team."
- Janet Shih, Migration Project Leader, Louisiana State University

SADA Systems and Denver Seminary

One of the first 10 Google Apps for Enterprise partners worldwide and initial contributor to the Google Apps Open Source provisioning toolkit, SADA Systems, Inc. has developed a proven track record in implementation of Google Apps solutions. SADA works with a diverse client base to create custom, leading edge solutions that strategically meet client business objectives.

Founded in 1950, Denver Seminary offers a number of masters and doctoral level programs for clergy, counselors and other faith workers. The Seminary is home to nearly 900 current students and has graduated over 4000 alumni.

Challenges

Prior to adopting Google Apps, Denver Seminary did not provide its students with email accounts. Staff and faculty email was served through Microsoft Exchange however the Seminary did not see that as an appropriate solution for student email. Denver Seminary chose to use Google Apps Education Edition to fulfill this need and turned to SADA to help with deployment and implementation.

Solutions

SADA first reviewed Denver Seminary's existing IT environment. They assisted Denver Seminary with the sign up and initial account setup for Google Apps Education Edition. SADA then configured the seminary's MX/DNS records, and set up a Dual Delivery system for staff members already on Microsoft Exchange. SADA deployed its Google Apps User Provisioning/Synchronization and Web Single Sign-On tools. Each of these tools allows Denver Seminary IT staff to provision and synchronize Google Apps accounts through it's Active Directory (AD) and gives the Seminary's users access their Google Apps accounts with their AD credentials.

Results

By implementing Google's and SADA's solutions, Denver Seminary has an email solution that comes with lower IT administration costs, higher user satisfaction, and increased productivity. This peace of mind allows Denver Seminary IT focus on more strategic initiatives.

"SADA Systems was a pleasure to work with," says Jason Adams, Director of IT for Denver Seminary. "I am impressed by their relationship with Google, something I didn't feel other vendors had. They brought experience and knowledge which was extremely important and helpful in getting us up and running."

He continues, "We are using SADA's fully hosted solution - they took care of everything, there was very little for us to do. And with the few resources we have that makes a huge difference - without breaking our bank! I would recommend SADA Systems to everyone looking to deploy Google Apps in their environment."

SADA Systems and Kent State University

One of the first 10 Google Apps for Enterprise partners worldwide and initial contributor to the Google Apps Open Source provisioning tool kit, SADA Systems, Inc. has developed a proven track record in implementation of Google Apps Education Edition solutions. SADA works with a diverse client base to create custom, leading edge solutions that strategically meet client business objectives.

Kent State University was founded in 1910 and has grown to become one of the largest regional education systems in the country. In addition, to the main Kent campus, the university has seven other campuses throughout Ohio.

Challenges

In many ways this Google Apps implementation presented a different set of challenges - an immense number of users who required the ability to migrate both contact and email data from Kent State's legacy platform to Google Apps. Provisioning 120,000 Google Apps users wouldn't be difficult, but migrating their data in a batch process would be inefficient, and problematic. Kent State University requested SADA's assistance with the following:

• Development of a self-service, on-demand mechanism where users can opt-in to migrate their existing email and contacts to Google Apps.
• Consulting on Google Apps deployment best practices, go-live checklists, as well as overall oversight around project success.
• Working on strategies to integrate Google Apps provisioning with Sungard's Luminis, an educational portal platform and its sister application, the Banner enterprise resource planning solution for educational institutions.

Solutions

SADA worked with Kent State to develop a strategy that addressed the needs of their students, faculty, and staff, as well as the stringent requirements of their IT department. These included:

• Development of a secure, custom self-service solution that allowed users to migrate their existing email from the University's legacy email platform to Google Apps. In order to accommodate a significant number of users who could simultaneously use the self-service migration tool, SADA worked with Kent State to build a system to handle multiple simultaneous connections (up to 500), residing on a load-balanced and clustered, LAMP-based and virtualized infrastructure.
• Overall project management and consulting services, and guidance/assistance for Kent State University and their other vendors about Google Apps deployment best-practices.
• Continual maintenance and support for the self-service migration solution following deployment.

Result

With SADA's assistance and the development of a custom platform, Kent State University was able to smoothly and effectively implement Google Apps allowing them to gradually transition away from their legacy email platform. Improvements to efficiency while streamlining administration have made big improvements to productivity, and freed up the university's own IT department to focus on mission-critical and value-oriented projects.

"One of the important aspects of the plan was allowing users the option to move their old e-mail and contacts list to their new Google account. For this critical component of the project, the university called upon the expertise of SADA Systems to help create a unique opt-in solution that allows users to migrate their e-mail from the same self-service Web site," says Roberta Sikula-Schwalm, Associate Vice President for Information Services, Kent State University. "For the individual user, it’s as simple as checking a box, and their old emails and contacts show up automatically in their new Google email accounts."

Ms. Sikula goes on to praise the process: "The result to date has been extremely successful. So far, more than 19,000 individuals have chosen to activate their accounts early, just two weeks following the project launch. SADA has provided invaluable assistance as an implementation partner in working through technical questions regarding the migration, and the Kent State community seems pleased with the new features they are accessing through their Google Gmail accounts."

Schools-On-I-Net and Yavneh Academy

Schools-On-I-Net offers a centralized web-based database solution for school management, communications, academics, educator collaboration and parent engagement. Schools-On-I-Net was built by RK Solutions, LLC., a privately held information technology consulting, outsourcing, and development firm founded in 2000.

Yavneh Academy of Paramus, New Jersey is a modern orthodox Jewish day school, providing its students with a superior Judaic and secular education for over 60 years. Yavneh’s educational foundation is built on torah sh’bichtav, torah sh’baal peh, mitzvoth, middot, ivrit and Eretz Yisrael.

CHALLENGES

Yavneh Academy required an upgrade to the school email system primarily for advanced spam control. The goal was to provide accounts for teachers, students and their parents that had industry leading spam filters as well as advanced email features such as group/contact management, auto-draft, POP/IMAP/Mobile Device support, and Hebrew text support. In addition, the email system needed to interface with the school management program so there would be one point of data entry for managing demographics and user accounts and one point of access to academic and communications systems for all users.

SOLUTION

RK Solutions, LLC presented Google Apps for Education as a solution for Yavneh Academy and as a direction for the Schools-On-I-Net application as a whole. Key factors for the decision were a) the capability to integrate features (Single Sign On API, Contacts API, User API), b) the spam control offered by Gmail, c) the additional functionality of Gmail, and d) the ability to expand integration to other Google applications (Calendars, Docs, Sites, Chat...) RK Solutions acted as the integration specialist, integrating Google Apps for Education APIs with the Schools-On-I-Net product. User, Group and Single-Sign-On API's were utilized to provide a seamless integration of functionality and user experience. In addition, RK Solutions utilized Gmail API's to provide migration services, synching emails from two other accounts for faculty and staff users. RK Solutions managed and executed the deployment of Google Apps for Education for the Yavneh Academy user community.

RESULT

Yavneh Academy was able to provide Google Apps for Education accounts for its 2,000 users. The Google Apps accounts for yavnehacademy.org interface seamlessly with the Schools-On-I-Net product. When users login to their web account on Schools-On-I-Net, they see the number of unread messages in their Gmail account, and are able to click on that link for single sign on authentication to their Gmail account. When users send emails from the website on Schools-On-I-Net, the email gets inserted into their Gmail’s sent folder, showing recipients in the BCC field. Adding, editing and changing users is also seamless and instantaneous. A user added to the Schools-On-I-Net system is automatically added as a user account in Gmail. Duplicates are avoided by Schools-On-I-Net. Plans to implement additional applications, such as Calendar, Docs and Sites are in the works.

“RK Solutions implemented Google Apps for Education for Yavneh Academy as an answer to our needs, which included: a safe open email system, minus the spam, an email client that supported Hebrew text, mobile devices, POP/IMAP, ability to manage groups and contacts, and cross browser support,” says Chani Lichtiger, Director of Technology at Yavneh Academy. “RK Solutions delivered with professionalism and care. They planned the project, devised the migration strategy, implemented the integration of Schools-On-I-Net with Google Apps for Education and completed the migration services. We look forward to the continued integration projects they have planned using Google Apps for Education for our school.”

SADA Systems and The Los Angeles Community College District

SADA Systems, Inc. is a privately held information technology consulting, outsourcing, and development firm founded in 2000. SADA works with its client base to develop innovative technology solutions to business challenges.

The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD or Client) is the administrative and governing body of several community colleges in the greater Los Angeles Metro area. LACCD has been serving students in the in the Los Angeles area for nearly 80 years.

CHALLENGES
The Los Angeles Community College District needed a seamless and integrated way to provision accounts for some 2 million students, former students, and alumni. Over its network of colleges the Los Angeles Community College District gets up to between 20 and 30 thousand registrations each day, during peak registration months. Account provisioning needed to be automated for incoming students, while allowing existing students, former students, and alumni the ability to "opt-in" to Google Apps email accounts.

SOLUTION
SADA used the Google API to develop a batch update and sync solution that is capable of provisioning multiple accounts per second. As a proof-of-concept the Client and SADA deployed the Google Apps solution to Los Angeles Trade-Technical college. SADA assisted the Los Angeles Community College District with every aspect of the deployment of Google Apps to Los Angeles Trade Tech. The batch provisioning tool, developed by SADA was implemented and allows the client to handle the problem of provisioning a large number of accounts (sometimes tens of thousands) in less than an hour. Additionally, SADA built a custom opt-in mechanism whereby students could select their own passwords and email aliases as part of the process.

RESULT
Los Angeles Trade Tech was able to provision accounts for approximately 35,000 currently enrolled students. Accounts for incoming students are now created automatically. Administrators are able to create accounts through a nightly update by uploading a single .CSV file. The Google API syncs with the LACCD Student Identity System to prevent the possibility of duplicate accounts. Former students and alumni have the option of creating an account if they choose.

"SADA Systems, Inc. is very controlled in their approach and methodology. They translated our requirements into a technical action plan very quickly and delivered what they said they would when they said they would. In my view SADA has a much better methodology and control of engagement than even large, national consulting firms," says Tony Tortorice, CIO of the Los Angeles Unified School District.

SADA Systems and Northwestern University

SADA Systems, Inc. is an information technology consulting, outsourcing and development firm founded in 2000. Northwestern University is a private institution with campuses in Chicago and Evanston, Illinois.

CHALLENGES
Northwestern University needed a seamless and integrated way to allow their students to "opt-in" to Google Apps email accounts via their own intranet system. This would have to be done in a way that would produce the least administrative overhead on their end, and allow students to provision and manage accounts themselves. The provisioning process would be based on various eligibility parameters pre-determined by Northwestern University.

They also needed a system to flag users who have opted in for FERPA protection – a federal mandate which protects the identity of students so that the accounts created for these students take a different form than those who have not selected such protection.

SOLUTION
SADA used Google Apps APIs to create an opt-in process to check and validate a requestor's eligibility, create the account if eligible, choose a password, and create nicknames. SADA's application had to query Northwestern University’s LDAP and make a CGI call to determine eligibility and determine usernames for Apps. Northwestern University required an intricate process by which our system would check for duplicates and create names based on a schema they developed. There is also a management interface that allows the student to manage their account after it has been created.

RESULT

All incoming and existing students will have the ability to create their own Google Apps accounts. Also, the existing Northwestern University identity management systems are fully integrated with the Apps account management process. They dictate from a central, non-Google Apps interface the parameters under which students can create accounts, and track back in their systems when and if these accounts are created.

This will allow Northwestern University to have Google Apps as their primary platform for delivering email services to all of their eligible students, and to greatly reduce the administrative overhead of managing email in an on-premise system.

"I just wanted to let you know that we feel that SADA is doing a very good job on the Law School and Single Sign-on projects for Northwestern. The quality of the development work is very good and I have found very few issues during testing. Both [SADA’s Director of Web Development] and [SADA’s lead developer] are sticking to the schedule as planned and we anticipate a very smooth deployment with these three new web pages before the next semester begins at Northwestern. Thanks for the good work." - Ron Blitz, Northwestern University Technical Services Analyst

LTech and Gallaudet University

Company Overview
LTech Consulting has been solving problems for both large enterprises and startup companies since 2001. Our team of dedicated search, collaboration, and web engineers empower businesses with innovative technologies such as Google Apps and the Google Search Appliance. Gallaudet University is the first U.S. college for the education of the deaf and hard-of-hearing. Established by a philanthropist in 1856 and located in Washington, D.C., Gallaudet is the only university in the United States in which all programs are designed for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

Challenges
Gallaudet wanted to upgrade their email system from OutBlaze to a more user-friendly system such as Google Apps. Their main goal was to free their users from the volume of spam they were receiving. They turned to LTech for assistance with migrating their email boxes, single-sign-on, and provisioning.

Solution
LTech provisioned SyncSuite for Google Apps into the Gallaudet environment and built a custom capture application to obtain addresses and passwords.

Results
Gallaudet University received a robust email solution that fit their needs and saved them time and budget. The custom capture application allowed users to perform the email migration at their own pace, with a goal of all users migrated before Fall semester 2008.

"I really appreciate you working with us on this. You've been great!" -- Jon, Director of Information Technology Services