• Leverages high performant Windows 10 or Linux systems running on server hardware housed in the CU datacenter on the Anschutz Medical campus. 
• Server hardware can be tailored to the researcher’s compute needs including the type of central processing unit (CPU), amount of random-access memory (RAM) and disk configuration (type, speed, redundancy and total storage).  
• Systems in SLCE are designed to be fault tolerant and are configured with redundant hardware including dual network cards and power supplies.

• Only available on the campus network or via VPN. 
• All data resides in the data center; data does not leave the data center
• Systems are protected by multiple layers of CU firewalls, central security controls, and monitored by security software. 
• Systems can be configured for use by one user or by multiple users for concurrent use.
• Systems can be loaded with the many statistical software packages including R, SAS, SPSS, STATA, Matlab, MS SQL, and other software as needed.

• The SLCE service is approved for highly confidential data so you do not need to complete a CMS Data Usage Agreement per project as there is blanket approval for all CMS data in this environment. 
• HIPAA and NIST 800-171 technical compliance are also included in the environment.
• Data is maintained on the systems to meet these requirements and provide fast access.
• Encrypted backups are performed nightly to the Dell Isilon.

Dos
SLCE is built for the following:

• High-performance analytics needs (high RAM or CU workloads)
• Secure computing requiring CMS, HIPAA, or NIST 800-171 compliance
• Big data or multiple large data sets
• Offloading long-run workloads
• Testing theories before scaling to the cloud or clustered environment
• Replacing lab servers in a secured, managed environment
• Centralizing critical research data

 

Don'ts
SLCE IS NOT built for the following:

• Access to the Internet
• Cloud computing or elastic computing 
• Replacing your desktop computer
• Single, one-off computing needs
• Web applications or websites