Recommended IT Tools
Based on the SLAC IT Collaboration and Communications tool survey results, and in conjunction with the SLAC IT Council, we have developed and published an IT Recommended Tool Matrix to provide guidance in selecting tools for:
- Collaboration
- Communication
- Device Configuration
- Digital Signatures
- Remote Access
- Scientific Engineering Applications
- Second Factor Authentication
- Storage
In setting out to establish a recommended tool matrix our strategy was to focus on two key data points; user preference and tool usage, while also giving consideration to other important factors. We utilized a lab-wide survey to learn what our users preferred. Log data and data storage information were used to determine which tools were more widely utilized among our users. Other important factors we had to consider were Stanford and DOE alignment, cost, tool life expectancy, support requirements, market dynamics, and resiliency.
Collaboration
| Tool | Recommended | General Support | Limited Adoption & Support | End of Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended by SLAC with the highest adoption rates amongst SLAC users. | Departmental adoption for specific use cases and fully supported by SLAC IT. | Niche use cases with limited adoption, usually supported by the department or group. | Targeted for decommissioning within 24 months. | |
| Document Collaboration | ||||
| Google Docs/Slides/Sheets | ✓ | |||
| Microsoft Office 365 | ✓ | |||
| Overleaf | ✓ | |||
| Video Conferencing | ||||
| Zoom | ✓ | |||
| Microsoft Teams | ✓ | |||
| Skype | ✓ | |||
| Blue Jeans | ✓ | |||
| WebEx | ✓ | |||
| Virtual Whiteboard | ||||
| Google Jamboard | ✓ | |||
| Microsoft Whiteboard | ✓ | |||
| Mural | ✓ | |||
| Miro | ✓ |
Communication
| Tool | Recommended | General Support | Limited Adoption & Support | End of Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended by SLAC with the highest adoption rates amongst SLAC users. | Departmental adoption for specific use cases and fully supported by SLAC IT. | Niche use cases with limited adoption, usually supported by the department or group. | Targeted for decommissioning within 24 months. | |
| Email Client | ||||
| Office 365 Web Mail | ✓ | |||
| Outlook | ✓ | |||
| Mac Mail | ✓ | |||
| iOS Mail | ✓ | |||
| Instant Messaging | ||||
| Slack | ✓ | |||
| Microsoft Teams | ✓ | |||
| Skype | ✓ |
Device Configuration
| Tool | Recommended | General Support | Limited Adoption & Support | End of Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended by SLAC with the highest adoption rates amongst SLAC users. | Departmental adoption for specific use cases and fully supported by SLAC IT. | Niche use cases with limited adoption, usually supported by the department or group. | Targeted for decommissioning within 24 months. | |
| Cardinal Key | ✓ |
Digital Signatures
| Tool | Recommended | General Support | Limited Adoption & Support | End of Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended by SLAC with the highest adoption rates amongst SLAC users. | Departmental adoption for specific use cases and fully supported by SLAC IT. | Niche use cases with limited adoption, usually supported by the department or group. | Targeted for decommissioning within 24 months. | |
| AdobeSign | ✓ |
Remote Access
| Tool | Recommended | General Support | Limited Adoption & Support | End of Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended by SLAC with the highest adoption rates amongst SLAC users. | Departmental adoption for specific use cases and fully supported by SLAC IT. | Niche use cases with limited adoption, usually supported by the department or group. | Targeted for decommissioning within 24 months. | |
| Remote Access Unix | ||||
| NoMachine | ✓ | |||
| FastX | ✓ | |||
| Secure CRT | ✓ | |||
| PuTTY | ✓ | |||
| Remote Access Windows | ||||
| Citrix | ✓ |
Scientific Engineering Applications
| Tool | Recommended | General Support | Limited Adoption & Support | End of Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended by SLAC with the highest adoption rates amongst SLAC users. | Departmental adoption for specific use cases and fully supported by SLAC IT. | Niche use cases with limited adoption, usually supported by the department or group. | Targeted for decommissioning within 24 months. | |
| Analysis Tools | ||||
| Ansys | ✓ | |||
| LabVIEW | ✓ | |||
| Mathematica | ✓ | |||
| MATLAB | ✓ | |||
| 2D CAD Tools | ||||
| AutoCAD | ✓ | |||
| 3D CAD Tools | ||||
| Solid Edge | ✓ | |||
| Mechanical Design Tools | ||||
| ETI_GD&T Trainer | ✓ |
Second Factor Authentication
| Tool | Recommended | General Support | Limited Adoption & Support | End of Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended by SLAC with the highest adoption rates amongst SLAC users. | Departmental adoption for specific use cases and fully supported by SLAC IT. | Niche use cases with limited adoption, usually supported by the department or group. | Targeted for decommissioning within 24 months. | |
| Hardware Token | ✓ | |||
| DUO Push | ✓ | |||
| DUO Mobile Passcode | ✓ | |||
| YubiKey | ✓ | |||
| Text message passcode | ✓ |
Storage
| Tool | Recommended | General Support | Limited Adoption & Support | End of Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recommended by SLAC with the highest adoption rates amongst SLAC users. | Departmental adoption for specific use cases and fully supported by SLAC IT. | Niche use cases with limited adoption, usually supported by the department or group. | Targeted for decommissioning within 24 months. | |
| Content Storage | ||||
| Google Shared Drive | ✓ | |||
| Microsoft OneDrive | ✓ | |||
| Sharepoint | ✓ | |||
| Network File Shares | ✓ | |||
| Confluence | ✓ | |||
| AFS | ✓ | |||
| Stanford Box | ✓ | |||
| DropBox | ✓ | |||
| Design Documents | ||||
| Siemens Team Center | ✓ | |||
| Confluence | ✓ | |||
| CDMS | ✓ | |||
| Electronic Logging | ||||
| Elog | ✓ |
