Information Technology Core Facility (ITCF)

At DKFZ, Information technology (IT) is a basic need for the work of all employees. This is due, in particular, to modern laboratory techniques in the field of genome analysis as well as radiological image processing with their large data volumes on a petabyte scale. In order to gain significant information and knowledge from research data, elaborate technologies are necessary. But also the penetration of everyday work with communication technology and office applications is still increasing, as facility monitoring and more and more administrative processes are being digitized. The many aspects of IT security play an important role at DKFZ because processing of personal data takes place in many areas and is required in many national and international scientific projects and co-operations. Therefore not only confidentiality and integrity of the data and applications are important, but also the availability is essential for good co-operation. IT thus has a leading role as an enabling technology for the life sciences and especially for cancer research.

The Information Technology Core Facility (ITCF) is responsible for optimum usage of IT at DKFZ, for supporting staff of all departments in matters of choosing IT tools for their special needs as well as for providing central IT Services and support which are essential for everyone at DKFZ. Individual solutions are also supported in planning and operation. This is done on a service-oriented basis. All essential strategic and operational functions and tasks at DKFZ are substantially facilitated by the ITCF.

The working group “Network” takes care of the physical data network, the Internet connections, dedicated connections of partners and operational security services.

The working group "Server and Compute" operates central platforms und infrastructures for scientific computing (SCI). This currently includes the operation of the DKFZ Cloud based on Openstack, the cloud infrastructure for the german network for bioinformatics infrastructure de.NBI and in close collaboration with the ODCF a cluster for general-purpose computing on graphics processing units (GPGPU). Central servers, mail and file service, printing services, data storage and scientific computing are the tasks of the working group.

Central software systems and services are provided in the working group “Software Systems”. This includes user management, software distribution and license monitoring, authorization and resource management in file service, database service, document management and the electronic labbook.

The "Application Development" working group programmes applications for all areas of the DKFZ. These are primarily web applications in conjunction with databases that are hosted on the central servers of the IT Core Facility. We also create the appropriate APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) to enable the exchange of data from third-party programmes at source code level.

The working group “Desktop Services” runs the service centres for user enquiries and works on matters relating to the desktop environment as well as mobile devices and operates the high quality printing centre. 

The "Partner Sites" working group supports the translational sites and networks of the DKFZ (DKFZ-Dresden, DKTK, HECTOR, HI-TRON, NCT extension) in IT-relevant issues as well as in planning, setting up and operating the IT connection to the core center in Heidelberg. In addition, the working group is the contact for the coordinators at the sites and the central coordination offices of the partner sites at the DKFZ.

The "IT Security" working group is responsible for the operational monitoring of IT security at the DKFZ as well as for the introduction, further development and operation of services and processes for the prevention of and response to IT security incidents (Computer Emergency Response Team -CERT).

Working groups

• Network
• Server and Compute
• Software Systems
• Application Development
• Desktop Services
• Partner Sites
• IT-Security