The Student Loans Company (SLC) will soon replace its 12 HP StorageWorks EVAs with IBM storage systems, to consolidate its students’ records. It expects to save power and space with the replacement.
The SLC provides loans and grants to over one million students annually, across the four education systems of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It is responsible for the processing of loans and grants to students as well as collecting repayments from over two million customers who are out of higher education.
Earlier this year, SLC has consolidated and virtualised its server infrastructure with IBM Power Systems to run core customer databases. Now, it will migrate all data storage to IBM’s System Storage DS8300 in anticipation of a more manageable and flexible platform for future requirements.
Fraser Harris, technical support manager at SLC, said: IBM Power Systems have exceeded our expectations and we anticipate the IBM storage solution will do the same. The prospect of significantly improving our green credentials at the same time as returning performance, capacity and capability to our business will be a major achievement.”
A few days prior to winning the SLC contract, IBM has signed an agreement with the UK Border Agency (UKBA), to be a part of the latter’s Immigration Case Work (ICW) Programme. IBM will provide consulting and systems integration services and deliver the overall design of the new IT system to support the applications process for visas and immigration.