GETS Update - August 6, 2010

Georgia Enterprise Technology Services (GETS) Update

Volume 2, Issue No. 16

August 6, 2010

Server migration doubles savings for GBI

Better performance. Enhanced security. Greater efficiency. Our technology transformation is delivering all of these benefits for the state's IT enterprise. On top of that, a recent project is already resulting in big savings for one state agency. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation will save twice as much as expected as a result of its migration to the new AIX server environment at the state data center.

Besides greater cost efficiency, the AIX server environment supports the IT transformation goal of reducing operating risks such as service interruptions and security breaches. Among its advantages are:

high levels of availability and performance
enhanced security
virtualization
scalability to easily handle expanding workloads

The project team - made up of IBM, the GBI and GTA - completed migration of the GBI's most critical applications to the AIX server environment in mid-July. As other agencies complete their migrations, we expect they will realize significant savings as well.

We are also realizing value in our re-engineering of the state's network. I hope you'll read the article in this issue of GETS Update about how upgrades and migrations are bringing us closer to the kind of high-performance network the state needs.

None of these successes would be possible without the hard work of teams from agencies, our service providers and GTA. Your commitment is making transformation a reality, and I appreciate your ongoing support.

Patrick Moore
State Chief Information Officer
GTA Executive Director

Upgrades continue to strengthen state network

Re-engineering the state's network - one of the most critical components of our IT transformation - is already resulting in increased speed, redundancy and security. We are continuing to work closely with AT&T on important aspects of managed network services.

Some of the most recent work involved segmenting Capitol Hill network traffic, a project requiring months of work by AT&T and coordination with GETS agencies. Isolating GETS full-service agency traffic on the Capitol Hill campus network is a key step toward implementing new AT&T firewalls and strengthening network security.

This project joins other successful upgrades and migrations:

Network re-engineering has resulted in a 100 percent increase in capacity. Prior to network changes, for example, Internet traffic entered and exited the state's data center through the same route, which inevitably led to congestion and slow response times. Traffic now flows from agencies directly to the Internet.
AT&T's Managed Security Services are protecting the network and providing additional capabilities. Services include managed firewall, intrusion detection and prevention, managed e-authentication, vulnerability scanning, and incident response.
The state's entire network can now fail over to AT&T facilities in Nashville, Tennessee, providing agencies with full Internet and wide area network redundancy for the first time.
We are consolidating IP addresses in a single, enterprise database to resolve the problem of duplicate IP addresses and overall IP address management in the state's legacy IT environment. Primary DNS/DHCP servers, which provide centralized IP address management, are located at the state data center with secondary servers in Boulder, Colorado. Agency DNS/DHCP migrations are currently under way.

We will keep you informed as additional network improvements take place.

Aiming for a better customer experience

Several efforts are under way to make sure you have a positive experience any time you use GETS program services.

Last week, focus groups discussed the IMAC (Install, Move, Add, Change) process, and we will be working to make improvements based on their input and recommendations.

A new advisory group met for the first time last month to begin evaluating the process for ordering end-user computing (EUC) equipment using the Service Catalog (OrderNow!). The group discussed several issues, including the availability of parts for new units and ways to more clearly present equipment options.

We continue to implement updates and enhancements to make the Service Catalog easier to use. Here is a quick summary of improvements made in July:

Added swivel monitors
Revised "Request Contact" field so it can be edited
Added Internal DNS to the "Request for DHCP/IPAM" catalog item
Updated usage charges to audio and Web conferencing services
Updated "Application Help" reference materials
Updated the Request for Solution checklist
Added an approval requirement for requests to access systems or applications
Updated lease rates and pricing for IMACs

Each of these efforts is part of GTA's commitment to improving IT services for GETS customers.

September 30 and October 1
Intercontinental Buckhead Atlanta
Only $25 for public-sector employees
Planned specifically for managers, executives and policy makers
For breakout session topics, keynote speakers and registration information, visit the Summit Web site