U Toronto Scarborough Implements New Systems Management Appliances

The University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) has implemented two new systems management appliances to improve its technology infrastructure, streamline its systems management tasks, and automate processes as it strives to securely manage an increasing number of devices and operating systems.

The university selected the Dell KACE K1000 management appliance and the Dell KACE K2000 deployment appliance to serve at the IT team's "one-stop shop" for systems management. UTSC is using the appliances for disk imaging, patch management, software deployment, and other tasks.

"Prior to Dell KACE, our team ran all over campus fighting IT fires, but now we are able to do the majority of our job remotely and enjoy an improved view on the health of all of our end points," said Abdulrauf Gehani, manager of IT client services for University of Toronto Scarborough.

According to Ken Drachnik, director of product marketing for Dell KACE, "education institutions make up a significant portion of Dell KACE's business."

Key features of the K1000 systems management appliance include:

  • Hardware and software inventory tracking;
  • Asset management;
  • Software and update distribution;
  • Service desk and user portal management;
  • Configuration management; and
  • Security enforcement and patching.

Key features of the K2000 systems deployment appliance include:

  • Disk imaging;
  • Network operating system installation;
  • Centralized deployment library;
  • Remote systems recovery;
  • Pre and post installation configuration;
  • User state migration;
  • Discovery; and
  • Inventory.

Further information about the K1000 and K2000 is available here.

The University of Toronto Scarborough serves nearly 11,000 graduate and undergraduate students at its campus in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. The University of Toronto is Canada's largest university and has campuses in downtown Toronto, Mississauga, and Scarborough, Ontario.

Other higher education institutions that have recently deployed Dell KACE appliances include Boston University and University of California, Los Angeles.

About the Author

Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • open laptop in a college classroom with holographic AI icons like a brain and data charts rising from the screen

    4 Ways Universities Are Using Google AI Tools for Learning and Administration

    In a recent blog post, Google shared an array of education customer stories, showcasing ways institutions are using AI tools like Gemini and NotebookLM to transform both learning and administrative tasks.

  • illustration of a human head with a glowing neural network in the brain, connected to tech icons on a cool blue-gray background

    Meta Launches Stand-Alone AI App

    Meta Platforms has introduced a stand-alone artificial intelligence app built on its proprietary Llama 4 model, intensifying the competitive race in generative AI alongside OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and xAI.

  • three main icons—a cloud, a user profile, and a padlock—connected by circuit lines on a blue abstract background

    Report: Identity Has Become a Critical Security Perimeter for Cloud Services

    A new threat landscape report points to new cloud vulnerabilities. According to the 2025 Global Threat Landscape Report from Fortinet, while misconfigured cloud storage buckets were once a prime vector for cybersecurity exploits, other cloud missteps are gaining focus.

  • Stylized illustration showing cybersecurity elements like shields, padlocks, and secure cloud icons on a neutral, minimalist digital background

    Microsoft Announces Security Advancements

    Microsoft has announced major security advancements across its product portfolio and practices. The work is part of its Secure Future Initiative (SFI), a multiyear cybersecurity transformation the company calls the largest engineering project in company history.