IT-palvelut tutkimukselle

Aalto IT Services provides centrally managed workstations with Linux, OS X and Windows operating systems. All Aalto workstations use the same Aalto username and password authentication.

Procurement of IT devices

Research workstation

• Available on Linux and Windows operating systems
• OS X research workstation to be released H1/2016
• Users can get administrator privileges for justifiable reasons
• Made for research: very adaptable to different needs, only a few forced configuration changes

Aalto Workstation benefits for users

• Single-sign-on: just log on to the computer and all other Aalto services will work automatically
• IT admins will take care of centralized software delivery, updates and anti-virus updates
• The basic software is installed on all workstations
  • Software Self Services portal can be used to install additional software
  • If something is missing from the Software Self Services, you can ask it to be packaged for you
• In case of computer software or hardware problems, a new computer can be installed quickly with the same configuration
• Files synchronized to file servers are backed up automatically. Default folders redirected to the file server are My Documents and Desktop
• Settings are similar in all workstations which helps to solve possible problems

Aalto workstation benefits for department admins

• IT infrastructure in Aalto is uniform when using the same tools, services and systems
• Operations are more effective, communicating easier and response times shorter
• Time and workload decreases on routine based tasks
• Cost and time savings
• Admins have more time for real development and solving difficult problems

For more information contact [email protected].

In specific cases or needs don't hesitate to contact your school IT Customer Relationship Manager IT collaboration with schools and partners (or)

IT Service Desk [email protected]

Aalto IT Services maintains tendered contracts for IT devices and service suppliers. With these contracts, Aalto gets very competitive prices for computers, phones and mobile subscriptions, printing, servers, storage systems and telecommunication equipment. 

Check the procurement page for further information:

Procurement of IT devices

For detailed procurement consultation please visit

Procurement of Information Systems

The IT procurements team is also available to assist in more special cases. The team can be contacted via email: [email protected]

AV expert services offer acquisitions, solutions, planning and implementation related to the University’s AV technology.

IT Services' AV team provides AV support for teaching and research. Support and services are available for:

• Video and audio recording
• Video and audio editing
• Post-processing and distribution
• Videoconferencing
• Remote teaching
• Support for conferences
• Academic ceremonies

Ask for more information from Servicedeskservicedesk.aalto.fi

Order Hosting service for meeting

servicedesk.aalto.fi

Check instructions for organising an Exhibition

Organise an Exhibition at Aalto University | Aalto University

Unigrafia offers to record lectures and video production.

computers.aalto.fi

You can check computers availability in classrooms​ and their installed softwares from computers.aalto.fi. 

Licences by Aalto

Aalto ITS purchases and maintains software licenses to support teaching and recearch purposes.  

In Aalto wiki you can find a list of classroom softwares

Aalto IT Windows Classroom Software List

If you have campus license suggestions, please contact IT collaboration with schools and partners

Licences by CSC

Researchers can also benefit from the largest collection of scientific software and databases in Finland by CSC. Read more here: CSC: Scientific Software and databases

Collaboration tools enable collaboration and data sharing within groups, as well as publishing data to the internet.

All the services mentioned below can be accessed with your Aalto username and password.

Microsoft Teams

teams.microsoft.com

• Modern and versatile platform for collaboration both in Aalto and with external partners
• Browser, desktop and mobile clients available
• MS Teams is available for use by all employees and students at Aalto University
• Features include team discussions, chats, meeting calls, files and more.

Aalto Wiki

wiki.aalto.fi/

• Aalto Wiki is Aalto University’s web service for collaboration and data sharing
• It’s possible to restrict read and write permissions by a single user or a group
• People without Aalto University’s account can use the service with Haka-authentication or with separate accounts

Eduuni

en.eduuni.fi/

• Eduuni is an environment for e-work and collaboration services for the sector of the Ministry of Education and Culture
• Eduuni-työtilat service consists of Microsoft SharePoint 2013 Workspaces and Office Web Apps functionality
• Workspaces enable collaboration and sharing data within a group, as well as publishing data to the internet

OneDrive for Business (O365)

o365.aalto.fi/

• OneDrive for Business is part of the Microsoft Office 365 cloud service platform
• It enables saving files and editing them on different devices, via a web browser or Office programs
• It is possible to sync files to any device for offline availability
• Sharing files for viewing or editing with others inside and outside Aalto University is easy
• Editing Office documents directly in the browser and simultaneously with others
   

Google Drive

gdrive.aalto.fi/

• Google Drive is one of Google Apps cloud services
• Any file or folder may be shared between users both within Aalto and outside Aalto
• Works with different devices, but no offline support is available
   

File storage spaces by Aalto ITS (Home and Work)

• Network drive having a folder for each user’s work items and shared folders for teams

Working with confidential data

To avoid unintentional data leaks, one has to be careful when handling confidential data with collaborators. Please refer to guidance and instructions:

A quick guide to information classifications: what IT systems to use with classified data

Secure processing of personal data

Comparison of collaboration tools

Comparison table of different file services and collaboration tools

Data management planning

• To create data management plans, use DMPTuuli. Based on feedback, it's easy to use.
• Data management planning guidance in aalto.fi

Storing and sharing

A short introduction to storing and sharing at aalto.fi

For more details on services to store and share research data, also look at the two sections above:

1. Storage and backup
2. Collaboration

Publishing research data

Instructions to publishing research data in aalto.fi

• We encourage Aalto researchers to leverage international services for data publishing.
• Recommendations and comparison of data repositories in aalto.fi

Data management guidance

Research data management guidance at aalto.fi

Aalto offers various storage solutions to researchers. All these services are free from charge.

Storage services

Home directory - for personal use

• Personal storage area for personal use
• Available automatically in Aalto ITS workstations for easy and transparent use
• Size: 100 GB / user
• Only the owner has access rights to the folder and its contents

Work directory - for departmental and individual work

• Network drive for individual work-related files
• Flexible file sharing with groups within the department
• Is offered freely to each department as part of the IT services
• Size can be extended but Teamwork is recommended to get a large capacity

TeamWork directory - for research groups and projects

• Shared network drive for research groups and projects that need larger network drive for collaboration
• Customizable with focus on research groups' needs
• No size limit; one volume can be 100 TB, but you can have several volumes 

Triton storage - for scientific computing

• 2PB total storage space primarily for scientific computing and data analysis use
• Personal and shared space
• High-performance Lustre filesystem, direct fast access from Triton.  Also accessible from other workstations and shell servers.
• Managed by Science-IT, part of Triton. For information see Triton docs

Fairdata IDA (by CSC)

• IDA is a storage service for research data provided by the Ministry of Education and Culture to actors in the Finnish research system.
• Free, secure and reliable storage service for research data, operated by CSC
• Integrates to Fairdata services, good for publishing large datasets with a description and persistent identifier.
• For more information, see the service description in aalto.fi or IDA page at the Fairdata website.

Online Storage

• Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive and Dropbox are recommended.
• The services must be used only with an Aalto account.
• Secure and safe way to also share files up to a few gigabytes.
• Both the receiver and the sender need Google, Microsoft or Dropbox (linked) account.
• Not suitable for confidential data without additional encryption.

Working with confidential data

To avoid unintentional data leaks, one has to be careful when handling confidential data. Please refer to instructions for secure handling and storage of confidential data:

A quick guide to information classifications: what IT systems to use with classified data

Secure processing of personal data

For more information contact [email protected]

Comparison of file services

Comparison table of different file services

Aalto IT Services recommends the following methods for transferring big files between organizations.

Transferring big files

Funet Filesender

• Secure and safe way to transfer max. 300 GB files.
• The sender or receiver needs an account for Haka login (ex. Aalto user account). The other party needs only an email address. 
• The sender uploads the file via a web browser and the receiver gets a download link for the file.
• For confidential data, use the built-in encryption by providing a password, and share the password via a secure channel (like phone/SMS)
• The service is available at https://filesender.funet.fi/.

SFTP

• Secure and safe way to transfer any sized files.
• The sender needs an SFTP server and the receiver SFTP client or vice versa.
• Aalto workstations have WinSCP Client installed. Linux/Unix systems have SCP command.
• If you need an SFTP server, contact Aalto ITS Service Desk.

FTP

• Unreliable and insecure method.
• Not suitable for confidential or people-related data without additional encryption.

General Advice

• Never give your Aalto user account to anyone.
• Do not use personal services (Whatsapp, Facebook, etc) to transfer work-related files.

For more information contact [email protected]

ACRIS is Aalto University's research information management system.

If you're a researcher, log in to acris.aalto.fi Help wiki is offered here: 

https://wiki.aalto.fi/display/ACRIShelp/ACRIShelpACRIS help at wiki.aalto.fi

Learning Centre

• Services for researchers: https://learningcentre.aalto.fi/en/research-and-artistic-activities-at-aalto/
• Open Access: http://libguides.aalto.fi/openaccess

Research and Innovation Services (RIS)

• The IT collaboration contacts can assist and consult in research and innovation questions and help to find the right contacts:
  IT collaboration contacts
• RIS pages describe in detail the services offered: The services cover the entire lifecycle of a research project: grant scouting, guidance and preparation of applications together with the applicant, support for management and administration of research project negotiations, legal services for research projects, commercial exploitation of research results, project management service for EU Framework Programme projects, documentation and information services related to research projects.
  https://www.aalto.fi/en/service-entities/research-and-innovation-servicesSignificant infrastructures can be found here: https://www.aalto.fi/en/research-and-learning-infrastructures
• Learn more about Aalto Networking Platform here: https://networking.aalto.fi
• The window to the world on Aalto's research; researchers, research organisations, publications, activities and infrastructures:
• Research.aalto.fi

Virtual servers

Aalto University offers free virtual servers for researchers. The virtual servers are hosted in Aalto University’s own data centre. The offered virtual server is reserved fully to serve a single purpose and in practice, it functions as a normal physical server. The capacity of the virtual machine is chosen by estimated load and can be adjusted when needed.

CSC also offers cPouta cloud platform for virtual servers https://research.csc.fi/cpouta

Physical servers

Aalto University offers a service for server procurement and installation. Aalto also offers free hosting for servers in a data centre that is designed to offer safe and continuous operation. With the hosting service, you will get higher resilience to failures for electrical power, air conditioning systems and networks.

Comparison of virtual and physical servers

Cloud Servers (IaaS)

Servers can also be allocated from the public clouds: Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform. Implementing a cloud server (Infrastructure as a Service) is fast and costs are based on the usage.

Server Hosting

Aalto offers data centres for hosting servers and storage systems. The data centres, located in Otaniemi, are designed to offer continuous and uninterrupted operation to all hosted systems. The hosting service is free.

Aalto ITS data centres

• Redundant power supply with UPS and standby generator
• Redundant data communication connections
• Air conditioning and fire suppression
• 24/7 environment monitoring
• Access control and alarms
• Possibility to get personal access
• Free for research and teaching staff

For more information, contact [email protected]

Aalto IT Services maintains tendered contracts for many cloud services and service suppliers. If you have any questions or concerns about cloud services IT Solutions for Research Team can assist and consult in cloud services and cases. Please contact [email protected] or check your schools IT contact:

Contacts of IT Collaboration

Azure

Aalto ITS has a contract with Microsoft Azure in order to use cloud infrastructure and applications. In case you need an adaptive server for computing capacity for permanent or especially for temporary teaching or research purposes, cloud services may be the solution. IT Services will pay small costs, but bigger expenses will be targeted to the user of the service. Please contact [email protected] and IT Services will evaluate the use case together with you.

Storing and processing information in public clouds should be done carefully with privacy and security aspects in mind. Confidential information is not allowed in clouds without proper encryption. Contact IT Service Desk for more information.

CSC Rahti Container Cloud Service

Rahti provides a platform for you to host your own applications and make them accessible over the web. Rahti can run many different kinds of applications from web servers and databases to data analysis pipelines.

In Rahti you can manage your applications directly using a web interface accessible through a web browser. Rahti can also be used through a set of APIs which allow programmatic management of resources. In order to access and use the service you must have a CSC user account.

Rahti Container Cloud Service

Check also section "Other services"!

FGCI - Finnish Grid and Cloud Infrastructure

The FGCI stands for the Finnish Grid and Cloud Infrastructure. As far as the grid is concerned, computing clusters, situated at different locations around Finland, are logically combined into a grid. Read more: https://research.csc.fi/fgci

Finland's Largest Scientific Software Collection

CSC provides researchers the largest collection of scientific software and databases in Finland. Read more: https://research.csc.fi/software

ThingWorx

Aalto ITS has an on-premise installation of ThingWorx IoT Platform. A support contract has been signed with a third party in order to offer technical consultation.

Please contact the IT Service desk to start using the platform. Specialists from ITS will evaluate together with you what is the best way to proceed.

Contacts of IT Collaboration

CSC Services for Research

CSC (the Finnish IT Center for Science) is a government-owned organization that provides a lot of services, most notably huge HPC clusters, data, and IT infrastructure services to the academic sector.

All of their services are free to the academic community (paid directly by the state of Finland). They also coordinate the Finnish Grid and Cloud Infrastructure. They have the largest known clusters in Finland.

CSC offers expert support on sciences, methods, HPC, scientific software, software and code optimization. Read more: https://research.csc.fi/ and you can also contact CSC-ServiceDesk [email protected]The following is the selection of useful links about CSC services. 

• Service Catalogue:
  https://research.csc.fi/en/service-catalog

• Accounts and Support: https://research.csc.fi/support-and-training
• Scientific Softwares: https://research.csc.fi/software
• Scientific Computing: https://research.csc.fi/computing
• Research and Education network - Funet: video communication services, eduroam etc. (Only in Finnish): https://wiki.eduuni.fi/display/funet
• Data management: https://research.csc.fi/data-management
• Data analytics: https://research.csc.fi/data-analytics
• Research Administration: https://www.csc.fi/en/research-administration
• Funet file sender: https://www.csc.fi/en/funet-filesender-tiedostonjakopalvelu (the page is in English)
• Secure cloud computing: CSC ePouta is a Finnish cloud computing environment (Infrastructure as a Service, IaaS) designed for processing sensitive data. https://research.csc.fi/epouta
• Check out CSC:s customer training and events: https://www.csc.fi/en/training
• More information on CSC's services to research: 
• https://www.csc.fi/en/web/guest/solutions-for-research

National Open Science (Avoin Tiede, ATT) Services

• Learn more about Open Science and Research project here: http://openscience.fi/
• http://avointiede.fi/palvelut (in Finnish)
• http://openscience.fi/services (in English

The European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) is an environment for hosting and processing research data to support EU science.

EOSC has a wide catalogue of services that can be used to process research data. The list below contains the most suitable ones for the research.

Networking

GÉANT Connectivity

GÉANT provides point-to-point connections globally with technologies suitable for different use cases. Contact IT Service Desk to get assistance in building a connection. The discussion with GÉANT will be done with the aid of the Finnish national NREN, Funet. See the detailed list of networking services here.

Security & Operations

eduRoam

EduRoam is one of the most well-known international services by GÉANT. Eduroam makes it possible to use Aalto´s user accounts to log into the eduRoam wireless network outside the university´s own campuses. Read more about eduRoam here.

Trusted Certificate Service

Trusted Certificate Service (TCS) provides free SSL/TLS certificates for academic services. Read here the instructions on how to apply for a server certificate.

EOSC Portal

The list of all available services can be found in the EOSC portal. Some of the services can be taken into use immediately. However, many of them require an agreement with the service provider and technical arrangements. Contact the IT Service Desk to get assistance in starting to use a new EOSC service.

It is possible to have a sandbox where a research environment can be built safely without disturbing Aalto's production network. A sandbox network is the right solution to build Proofs-of-Concept, to test research setups or to run measuring devices.

Sandbox is:

• A logically separated part of the network that can be built anywhere on the campus.
• The network can have a connection to the public internet if required. Connections to Aalto's internal network are not recommended.
• Network properties can be chosen freely: public or private IP addresses, the number of attached devices and firewall settings.
• The sandbox can be combined with other ITS provided services, for example with virtual servers, storage services, DHCP and DNS.

Contact the IT Service Desk and share the details of the research plan. ITS specialists will build a suitable IT environment together with the researchers.

Aalto offers free network services on campus to researchers. These services include, but are not limited to:

Physical cable infrastructure

• Wide optical fibre infrastructure in Otaniemi area
• Twisted pair cables inside buildings

Wired access network for workstations

• Backbone 100Gbit/s
• Public IPv4 and IPv6 addresses including firewalling as a service

Laboratory and research networks for measurement equipment and PCs

• Closed networks with minimal or no access to the outside world
• Perfect for insecure and unpatched workstations like Windows XP PCs
• Aalto services can be used via general-purpose servers
• Private (or public) IPv4 or IPv6 address
• Usually only wired access possible

Generating Test Traffic

• A service to generate high-speed IP-based test traffic
• The hardware is physically housed at the Department of Communications and Networking
• Can be used in the Aalto University area
• Detailed information available about the traffic generating service

Wireless network

• Aalto WLAN (SSID: aalto) available for Aalto workstations, possible to get access to the specific network via 802.1x authentication
• General networks also available (SSIDs: Aalto open, eduroam)
• Department's own VLAN may be linked to a specific SSID for research purposes
• Learn more here: Wireless Networks

NetLeap LTE research network

• Aalto IT offers a next-generation LTE network in cooperation with Nokia Solutions and Networks for research and development use.
• Learn more here: NetLeap (LTE)- test network

Aalto 5G

The service will be published in 2020. A link will be added then.

5G Testbed

• There is a 5G test network in the Otaniemi area maintained by the 5G Test Network Finland (5GTNF). 

• 5GNTF is a collection of Tekes (the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation) projects related to 5G networks. Together they coordinate the integration of the Finnish 5th Gear testbeds and facilitates the cooperative creation of a joint open innovation platform for 5G technology and service development. The infrastructure can be used also by 3rd parties.

• To get more information about 5G testbeds please contact 5GTNF directly (5gtnf.fi/contacts/) or contact Aalto ITS ([email protected]) to discuss more needs before contacting 5GTNF.

NB-IoT

• NB-IoT is a communication network for IoT devices. In Otaniemi Area, NB-IoT technology is provided by commercial operators and by the Departments of Communications and Networking.

LoRaWAN and Sigfox

• LoraWAN and SigFox networks cover Otaniemi area. So far, Aalto has no contracts with these networks’ operators.

DNS (Domain Name System) service

• Service for managing DNS information of Aalto's internet domains
• Possible to get admin rights to manage your own domain names
• Support for IPv6 available

VPN (Virtual Private Network) service

• Secure access to the Aalto network through the Internet
• Possible to get access to the specific network when using Aalto workstation
• Also available to personal devices
• Learn more here: VPN

Inter-campus connections

•  Co-operating with Funet an option to implement high speed optical XWDM connections between universities

For more information, please contact [email protected]

Wireless Network is available in all classrooms but certain lecture halls and classrooms have improved WLAN capacity. These halls are suitable especially for electronic exams and other network-dependent events. Also, the number of freely available power sockets vary between the rooms.

Main Building

• Otakaari 1: Hall A (500 / a few) (max. simultaneous WLAN users and availability of power sockets)
• Otakaari 1: Hall B (300 / a few)
• Otakaari 1: Hall C (200 / to be filled)
• Otakaari 1: Hall D (100 / to be filled)
• Otakaari 1: Hall E (100 / to be filled)
• Otakaari 1: Hall U2 (600 / to be filled))

TUAS Building

• Maarintie 8: Hall AS1 (100 / moderate)
• Maarintie 8: Hall AS2 (300 / moderate)
• Maarintie 8: Hall TU1 (100 / moderate)
• Maarintie 8: Hall TU2 (300 / moderate)

CS Building

• Konemiehentie 2: Hall T1 (300 / good)
• Konemiehentie 2: Hall T2 (100 / good)
• Konemiehentie 2: Hall T3  (100 / a few)
• Konemiehentie 2: Hall T6  (100 / a few)

Webpages

• wiki.aalto.fi - Collaboration and webpage tool for research projects and events.
• Aalto.fi - Official webpages
• blogs.aalto.fi - Blogging
• Order WordPress

Comparison 

Webpage hosting

• Wordpress-hosting provided Aalto partner Seravo Oy
• Static webpage server
• Webserver for IT administrators and advanced users

Comparison 

Webpage as service

• Web Studio of the Aalto Studio offers Wordpress webpages and help Aalto people with their Internet ideas
  and problems.
• Unigrafia offers services for Wordpress webpages and website's graphic design.

Comparison 

Webpages for personal information

• people.aalto.fi - Personal information portal
• research.aalto.fi - Public research portal
• users.aalto.fi - Personal website space

Comparison 

Security for research

https://www.aalto.fi/fi/tietoturva/tutkimuksen-tietoturva (Authenticate needed.)

Aalto IT security team and our services

Information Security at Aalto University

IT policies and guidelines and their development

• IT security team participates in the development of the university's operations, makes definitions concerning IT security and produces policies, guidelines and training for various groups of people at the university. Please see the link above for a shortcut to all policies and guidelines.

IT security and specialist services of data and privacy protection

• IT security team provides specialist assistance for Aalto staff, groups and units in questions concerning IT security and privacy. You may submit your questions to [email protected]. We also suggest you follow our email notifications and participate in training too.

Administration of IT security incidents and CSIRT work (Computer Security and Incident Response Team)

• IT security team monitors and controls security condition and handles security deviations at the university. A dedicated Aalto CSIRT team is the main workforce if and when security incidents occur. If you suspect something odd has happened in your environment, do not hesitate to contact Aalto CSIRT via [email protected].

Security of survey tools

Listing of survey tools reviewed for personal data

Security scanning and auditing

• IT security team performs scheduled and on request security scans of Aalto networks and services. Scanning requests can be sent to [email protected] by the admin and/or owner of the target system. We will contact you then for the details and schedule.
• IT security's main task is to support Aalto University's work by ensuring reliable and secure environment for the university's and its stakeholders' data. The objective is to protect data and information systems against avoidable threats and keep disturbances and damages caused by deviations at an accepted level. To accomplish this occasional and select security audits are conducted. Help is also provided to units reaching for KATAKRI approval.