High quality communications are essential to support the mission of Murdoch University. The Murdoch Communications Network is comprised of communications infrastructure, equipment, and standards associated with the transport of data, telephony, radio and ancillary communications services, throughout the University.

IT Services is responsible for the overall management of the Communications Network, managing and administering appropriate standards to ensure consistency and quality of communications services. Strategic planning, investigation and adaptation of new technologies, capacity planning, and maintenance of appropriate databases and records are also the responsibility of IT Services.

Service levels

Accessibility

• All staff, and students where appropriate, are provided with access to voice and data services.
• All staff and students located off-campus are provided with dial-in access to data services.
• Associated and commercial organisations, located on Murdoch’s campuses, are allowed access to the Communications Network.
• Switchboard, Helpdesk and Directory services are provided by IT Services.

Reliability

The Communications Network is designed to be available as close as possible to 100% of the time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Equipment downtime is minimized through the use of redundant, self-healing communications designs. Where redundant designs are not an option, downtime is minimized through the use of automatic fault alert systems, on-site spares and after-hours monitoring. Every effort is made to ensure that externally provided communication services are also able to provide maximum up time.

Efficient fault reporting mechanisms and fault escalation procedures will continue to be implemented, to provide a means by which all faults can be easily reported and promptly resolved.

Security

The Communications Network equipment and infrastructure is physically secured against internal and external security threats, under the Murdoch University Communications Network Security Policy and Procedures.

Capacity and Growth

IT Services maintains adequate expansion capacity in infrastructure and equipment to ensure minimal delay in the provision of telephone and network services, supported by a fundamental strategy of providing:

• Separate physical locations for key redundant equipment.
• Separate physical redundant routes to all major buildings.
• Automatic re-routing of key services to an alternate path/provider in the event of primary path/provider failure.
• Short-term emergency power to critical distribution points.
• Industry standard, integrated cabling and infrastructure in all new buildings.
• Progressive migration towards an integrated voice and data system.

General Policy and Standards

As a University resource, the Communications Network is managed by IT Services to University-wide standards. Unless specifically approved by IT Services:

• Change to the physical or logical infrastructure of the Communications Network is not permitted.
• Connection of devices, other than standard workstations, servers and printers, to the Communications Network, is not permitted.
• Utilisation or connection of radio-based network systems is not permitted.
• Use of IP numbers or domain names, other than those registered with IT Services, is not permitted.
• Redistribution of services from a single port to multiple devices is not permitted.
• All building and communications designs must conform to Murdoch Communications Standards and must be approved by IT Services.

Cost Recovery

The Communications Network operates on a full cost-recovery basis, where the costs associated with each Network activity are identified and distributed accordingly. Costs recovered include staff costs, service charges, and infrastructure and equipment maintenance. Major network upgrades and incremental expansion are not part of the cost-recovery model.

Further information on Communications Network charging can be found at http://wwwcoms.murdoch.edu.au/.

Violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action under the Conditions of Use of Computing and Networking Facilities, action under the Student Discipline Statute, or legal action.