Behind every observation, every byte of data traveling from the Chajnantor plateau, there is a team making sure the technology just works. That’s ALMA’s IT department.

The team keeps networks, servers, data centers, computers, and connectivity running around the clock – and ensures that the digital platforms scientists, engineers, astronomers, and operational staff rely on are always available when they need them.

The Backbone of Daily Operations

From setting up accounts and managing equipment to solving technical problems and maintaining digital platforms, IT’s work touches almost every part of the observatory.

“IT Support is the foundation for maintaining operations. We may not be directly involved in operating the antennas, but we support all the people who are,” explains Alex Valenzuela, IT System Specialist II. “Our job is to make everyone else’s work easier; we are the tool that helps them all do their jobs better.”

Day-to-day, that means keeping email running, file storage accessible, and collaborative tools available without interruption.

Getting Ready for Bigger ALMA

The department’s biggest challenge ahead is the Wideband Sensitivity Upgrade (WSU) – a technological upgrade that will enhance ALMA’s antennas, correlators, and core systems to dramatically boost its scientific output.

The catch: it could generate up to 40 times more data than today. That means expanding networks, scaling up storage, and increasing processing capacity well before the upgrades arrive. Work has already begun on network bandwidth improvements, with more upgrades under evaluation

Always evolving, always on

Beyond the WSU, the team continuously navigates technological renewal, resource management, and cybersecurity – all in an environment where the pace of change never slows.

Their work may happen behind the scenes, but without it, ALMA doesn’t move. The IT team keeps everything connected so the observatory can keep doing world-class science.