CIRRUS – Efficient Access to RIS Resources

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute investigators and administrators are using Cloud Integration Resource for Research User Services (CIRRUS) services to:

• Access file share capabilities
• Get information service resource management tasks done quickly
• Simplify approval processes
• Reduce turnaround times
• Increase overall efficiency

The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly increased demand for these automated resource management services. Is your research team or administrative department taking full advantage of CIRRUS?

First released in 2013 by Research Information Services (RIS) and the RIS Infrastructure Team, CIRRUS was based on a Microsoft product, System Center. In 2014, vRealize Suite, provided by VMWare, replaced System Center, and has evolved into the current CIRRUS portal. Services have been added as need arises through the research community. CIRRUS is intended to make resource provisioning and access a quick, automated, and efficient tool for managing research or administrative resources. Once an underutilized service, more and more researchers are taking full advantage of the productivity benefits it offers.

CIRRUS Interface

New CIRRUS services on the horizon include Custom Virtual Machine Provisioning, Vault password and data security services, more granular user control of VDI end-user and licensing management, automated DNS services for automating DNS entries. The RIS Infrastructure Team is always looking to expand CIRRUS capabilities. If you have an idea that could improve IS research resource provisioning and utilizes CHOP Active Directory for access control, the RIS Infrastructure Team wants to hear from you.

CIRRUS is self-service portal for provisioning and access to these resources; support and information for the products themselves, such as G Suite, Kubernetes, Vault, and others are separate from CIRRUS application support. Information and support for each product are available through each product’s service provider for needs such as how-to instructions, debugging, and documentation.

As more of us need infrastructure provisioning and access to do our work, tools like Google@CHOP, File Share, Kubernetes Namespace, Vault Namespace, Virtual Desktop Provisioning, and are meeting those needs.

Important to note are that CIRRUS and the provisioning and access services it provides are strictly for CHOP Research Institute use. A valid Research Cost Center number and activity is required to request these services.

RIS and the RIS Infrastructure Team invite you to explore and utilize these self-service automated productivity tools to streamline processes and help your team reach their goals and fulfill our CHOP Mission and Vision.

Contact RIS Infrastructure Team about CIRRUS by calling the Service Desk (ext. 4-HELP (4-4357) or 215-590-4357.

Important to note are that CIRRUS and the provisioning and access services it provides are strictly for CHOP Research Institute use. A valid Research Cost Center number and activity is required to request these services.

RIS and the RIS Infrastructure Team invite you to explore and utilize these self-service automated productivity tools to streamline processes and help your team reach their goals and fulfill our CHOP Mission and Vision.

Contact RIS Infrastructure Team about CIRRUS by calling the Service Desk (ext. 4-HELP (4-4357) or 215-590-4357.