What is a Standard Operating Environment (SOE)?

A Standard Operating Environment (SOE) is a specification for a standard architecture and application/software to be used for computers within an organisation.

More specifically, it is a suite of software and hardware configurations that is deployed within an organisation. This configuration includes the operating system with service pack(s) and other upgrades, and all of the standard applications used within an organisation.

Why have an SOE?

A major advantage of having an SOE within a large scale environment such as the University is the dramatic reduction in the time taken to deploy and configure a new computer.

In a scenario where departments might have be buying different computer configurations, it is not possible to have a streamlined install and setup process due to variations such as disk sizes, hardware, and other factors.

By standardising the hardware and software platforms used within the University, ITS will be able to deploy new equipment and correct problems with existing equipment in a short period of time and a minimal level of disruption.

The benefits of having an SOE, especially within larger environments such as the University are that it:

• provides a consistent experience for users of the Univeristy's IT systems
• provides improved IT systems uptime
• provides improved security
• leads to significant reductions in the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for the desktop computing environment
• provides a framework for ITS staff to effectively support and implement the university's computing assets

The implementation of a SOE will commonly result in substantial savings due to increased efficiency and gained productivity.

From the perspective of the Faculties and Divisions, there will be less downtime on machines requiring repair along with rapid setup times on new equipment. These efficiencies translate to increased productivity through reduced staff downtime.