Sharpen your sphere Sharpen your sphere

Cutting-edge research demands cutting-edge IT infrastructure.

Sharpen your sphere

Hone your technology. Inspire new ways of learning.

R1 institutions are unabashedly bold, with a passion for research that pushes the boundaries of academia. Your sphere – the teams, resources, and IT infrastructure at the center of your research – enables you to look at our universe in exciting new ways. But evolutions in AI, data storage, and cybersecurity have transformed technology's impact on your sphere. To stay ahead of the future, you need to make your IT infrastructure as cutting-edge as your research. You need to sharpen your sphere.

SHI and Cisco

Health check

Project forecasting

Project optimization planning

Smart Net TCO

Customer technology centers

Next-gen infrastructure. Next-level support.

SHI understands the unique challenges your R1 institution faces in modernizing and future-proofing your infrastructure. The data your staff and students produce is the lifeblood of their work. They need to access their research from anywhere at any time – which means you need resilient storage, robust networking, and reliable data recovery. And with new AI tools at their disposal, yesterday’s infrastructure just won’t cut it. Your people produce more data than ever, and it’s up to you to ensure it’s all clean and secure. Here’s how we help:

Make new discoveries. Protect against new threats.

We have an axe to grind with cybersecurity threats. While you're trying to welcome new students and conduct career-defining research, bad actors are trying to steal your data by any means possible. The education sector is one of the biggest targets for cyberattacks1, and the sheer depth and breadth of the data you store makes R1 institutions particularly vulnerable. Our cybersecurity experts identify and close vulnerabilities in your security posture, building proactive processes to ensure you stay secure over the long run. We can help you:

Adaptable devices. Predictable costs.

Your staff and students need devices forged for their specific needs – from batteries that can sustain long bouts at the library to powerful neural processing units (NPUs) that can handle the demands of hardware-level AI. With our value-added Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) solution, you can mold your institution’s device fleet for every role while maintaining seamless user and management experiences – even if you have multiple OSs and OEMs.

Results for every thesis. Contracts for every purchase.

You have high standards, and rightly so. From the legitimacy of relevant literature to the scope of conducted research, you accept nothing but the best. The same should hold true for your IT procurement. We hold national and state contracts applicable to nearly every aspect of IT. Whether you’re overhauling your network architecture, bolstering your cyber defenses, or building a new device fleet, our contracts ensure you get the most value from every asset. Not sure which contract vehicle is right for you? Our experts can help identify which options best fit your needs.

Enterprise agreement expertise

Redefine "cutting-edge" at SHI's customer technology centers

Integration centers:

Across SHI’s global integration centers, Customer Innovation Center (CIC), and Executive Briefing Center (EBC), we offer unparalleled opportunities for you to configure, test, and train for your ideal infrastructure project.

Five locations across the U.S., U.K., Netherlands, and Singapore

Data center rack integration services

Inventory management, warehousing, and global logistics

Experience SHI’s integration center capabilities >

Executive Briefing Center:

Partner showcases exhibiting new products, offerings, and experiences

In-person specialist trainings on the latest IT solutions

Located at SHI’s HQ in Somerset, New Jersey

Explore SHI’s EBC in more detail >

Learn how to leverage SHI's CIC >

Real-time audits of proposed technology as if they were already in your environment

Design and test products and solutions alongside SHI’s IT experts

Located at SHI’s HQ in Somerset, New Jersey

Customer Innovation Center:

Hone your IT infrastructure. Inspire new ways of learning. Sharpen your sphere. All with SHI.

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Read our latest Higher Ed infrastructure study

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Explore our storage lifecycle success plan

Get started with our security posture review

Explore our procurement contracts

1Picus Cyber Threat Intelligence Report May 2023: Key Threat Actors, Vulnerable Regions, and Industries at Risk. Picus Security. Sila

HPC clusters: - We configure and rack and stack large HPC clusters across multiple leading OEMs, including Dell Technologies, Lenovo, and HPE. - At Ridge Integration Center, we can pre-stage HPC systems until you’re ready to deploy. Storage workshops: - Our workshops help you choose the right storage platform and OEM for your block, unstructured, HCI, and backup needs. - At our Customer Innovation Center (CIC), we explore the pros and cons of each OEM and familiarize you with their UI. AI workshops: - We dive into the fundamentals of setting up an AI environment within your institution. - Learn the entire process, from discovery and assessment to prioritization, planning, and putting your strategy to action.

With our proven processes and expertise, SHI is uniquely equipped to help you sharpen your infrastructure and overcome these challenges.

Maintain NIST 800-171 compliance: - Stratascale, an SHI company, performs gap assessments to understand how you can better align with NIST standards. - We can swiftly act on any shortcomings and provide an end-to-end solution that keeps you compliant and eligible for federal funding. Install and configure firewalls: - We provide full professional services to help implement core firewalls within your institution. - Our services include rack and stack configuration, policy creation, subscription adoption, and more. Perform security trainings: - Our Training and Adoption team offers custom trainings for a wide selection of security OEMs. - We also offer credits for OEM-led trainings.

With our help, you can make the industry-changing discoveries you’re known for with confidence that your people, data, and devices are safe from ever-evolving threats.

Our DaaS solution includes: - Free warehousing and shipping. - Deployment assistance from project and operations managers. - Device enrollments into Autopilot and Apple School Manager. - Custom ecommerce catalogs, inventory portals, and asset tagging. - Integrations with IT service management platforms through ServiceNow. Operating under one contract with flexible leasing and financing options, DaaS from SHI simplifies device procurement, configuration, and deployment.