Re: Tracking periodic tasks

[Thomas Carter <tcarter () AUSTINCOLLEGE EDU>]

I'd really prefer something with more features than a calendar. With a calendar, how do you verify completion of a 
task? How do you get notified that an overdue task has not been completed? I'd also like the flexibility with the time 
the task is performed. For example, something that is weekly may be able to be done anytime that week. I don't want to 
limit it to a specific day or time.

I realize what I'm looking for may be too much to ask for cheap and easy, but may I should explain what I've used in 
the past. Recurring tasks were set up and assigned to a person or group of people who were responsible for completing 
that task. Every Monday, for example, those people would get an email reminding them of incomplete tasks due soon (e.g. 
weekly tasks due that week, monthly tasks due in the next two weeks, etc).  A dashboard would also show all tasks with 
status.  When a task was complete it would be marked complete with the date and the person doing the task. They could 
also attach supporting documentation that the task was done (e.g. a list of tapes sent to offsite storage that week). 
All of this makes it easy to ensure these tasks are being done, by whom, and with supporting evidence.

The home grown system I mentioned was a custom add-on to our help desk system as a help desk system almost meets the 
requirements I'm looking for. However I cannot find an easy way to do that with our current system (KACE Service Desk).

Thomas

From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of Brad Judy
Sent: Friday, January 15, 2016 9:17 AM
To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU
Subject: Re: [SECURITY] Tracking periodic tasks

This is what (from a previous boss) I refer to as an "operational calendar".  I'd suggest simply creating recurring 
events in your calendaring system to remind people of those tasks and reserve some of their time to perform them.  A 
shared team calendar might be helpful for creating a view into the recurring items across your group.  Depending on 
your ticketing system, you may also be able to set up a scheduled task there.

Brad Judy

Information Security Officer
Office of Information Security
University of Colorado
1800 Grant Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO  80203
Office: (303) 860-4293
Fax: (303) 860-4302
www.cu.edu<http://www.cu.edu/>

[cu-logo_fl]

From: The EDUCAUSE Security Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU] On Behalf Of Thomas 
Carter
Sent: Friday, January 15, 2016 8:01 AM
To: SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU<mailto:SECURITY () LISTSERV EDUCAUSE EDU>
Subject: [SECURITY] Tracking periodic tasks

I wanted to ask how others are tracking periodic tasks (i.e. things done weekly, monthly, etc) for a team. In a 
previous life in the corporate world I've used both home-grown systems and complex team management software to ensure 
and document regulatory compliance, but I'm looking for something simpler and cheaper. How does your organization 
ensure these tasks are done by whom?

Thomas Carter
Network & Operations Manager
Austin College