Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) update [Vol. 5, Issue 12 (Dec. 4, 2013)]

Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) Update
Volume 5, Issue No. 12 December 4, 2013

It pays to do mainframe right
As consumers, we all want to understand what we are buying and pay only for what we need. It's the same with the GETS program.
We embarked on an initiative at the start of 2013 to assist agencies in managing consumption of GETS services. As part of that effort, several upgrades have been made to the mainframe service to improve its efficiency and to offer new features to agencies. Now, GTA is looking at the way specific applications interact with the mainframe infrastructure to determine whether there are additional opportunities to reduce consumption. These are large, complex applications whose needs for CPU and storage capacity can vary widely depending on how everything is configured. As the applications and the infrastructure change over time, they can get out of "tune" with one another, possibly reducing overall performance or increasing costs.
We asked IBM mainframe experts outside the GETS team to conduct a thorough analysis of how agency applications use the mainframe. GTA is footing the bill for the work. Together with IBM, we will share the findings with affected agencies -likely those who are the largest consumers of mainframe services -- and perhaps make recommendations for tuning. Agencies will be able to evaluate options and determine what, if any, action they wish to take.
The analysis has been under way for several weeks, and we expect it to be complete shortly. We plan to begin sharing the findings with affected agencies later this month.
Fine-tuning the mainframe can boost application performance, which can have a positive impact on an agency's productivity and its ability to serve Georgians. I'll keep you posted on the progress we make.
Thank you for your ongoing support.

In This Issue
Knowing what's where -- an asset management challenge Saving money by not saving everything North Georgia's digital future to be conference focus Briefly... (SCON) (TAG Gov't Technology) (GOVTalks)
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Calvin Rhodes State Chief Information Officer GTA Executive Director

Knowing what's where -- an asset management challenge
The GETS asset management team makes it its business to know not just what's what, but what's where. When it comes to GETS computers, that knowledge is crucial to maintaining the good health of the state's computing environment. One way the team, in coordination with GETS agency asset management focals, monitors that environment is through an automated asset tracking tool. Preparations are being made to upgrade the existing tool to KACE, a more capable tracker.
For GETS agency staff -- users of the PCs -- the switch to KACE won't make waves. They'll see an altered onscreen pop-up message when routine software and security updates automatically load to their computers. (Delivery of security and software updates is also enabled by KACE.) They'll be asked to provide/confirm, via an online asset information collection tool, a few basic details about their computers. Green asset tag number. Location of the PC. User's name. And, they'll receive an updated desktop icon that keeps these computer details at their fingertips -- helpful when speaking with the Consolidated Service Desk.
The real potential lies behind the scenes. With better tracking of GETS PCs comes enhanced ability to accurately reconcile charges on GETS invoices. Keeping PCs current with the latest software and security patches becomes more manageable. And when risks (e.g., malware targeting certain computer profiles) do arise, or upgrades (e.g., SSL VPN, email) are made that hinge on computer type, more complete information about the landscape is available.
KACE will not make asset management any more glamorous. For computer users it remains nearly invisible, or rarely visible. But for all, and for the state, more effective asset management pays dividends toward ensuring a more reliable and secure IT environment.
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Saving money by not saving everything
The GETS backup and storage team hopes one fundamental point is plain -- when it comes to agencies' data storage, keeping everything forever will not be feasible in the state's transformed IT environment.
The team may sound like a broken record as it repeats that message to each GETS agency at backup and recovery meetings happening now through January of the coming year. The importance though of changing storage habits, and the potential financial impact of not doing so, justify the repetition.
During the meetings and follow-up discussion, GTA and IBM will collaborate with agencies to ensure development of goodsense strategies to capitalize on Tivoli Storage Manager (TSM), the backup and storage tool supporting the transformed IT environment. A key goal will be helping agencies avoid an unwanted spike in costs with the transition to TSM and the changed approach to storage practices it requires.
The meetings will also emphasize a crucial collaboration among IT, finance and record retention personnel at each agency as backup and storage strategies are devised. This is a clear instance where IT options and business considerations must be examined together for a positive outcome.
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North Georgia's digital future to be conference focus
North Georgians will join with area experts at the North Georgia Digital Economy Conference on December 12, 2013, to discuss high-speed broadband connectivity as an enabler of a digital economy. The event will showcase local innovations broadband has facilitated in education, healthcare, business and government.
Sponsored by the Georgia Technology Authority's Digital Georgia program, the conference will feature a slate of speakers addressing opportunities for North Georgia. The Digital Georgia program is GTA's effort to promote participation in the digital economy and encourage growth of broadband connectivity throughout the state.
Working with all 12 of Georgia's regional commissions, GTA is using federal support to fund development of a digital economy strategy in each region of the state. Conversations are ongoing with broadband providers and local communities with hopes of bridging any service gaps and bringing greater connectivity to every corner of Georgia.
The December 12th conference will be held in Cumming, Georgia, at Lanier Technical College Forsyth Conference Center. See GTA's website for event details. And, contact GTA's Bill Price for information about the conference, as well as the Digital Georgia program. Back to Top
Briefly...
A top priority for the state's ongoing IT transformation continues to be advancing server consolidation (SCON) work, and speeding the business of building new servers. As new servers are built and delivered, agencies are then tackling the ambitious task of installing their applications on the servers and testing them. In the midst of the push to get new servers into the hands of agencies that will use them, the teams are also working to improve processes for assigning administrative access rights. Without those, agencies' installation and testing work can't proceed. The SCON focus will carry into the coming year. In recent weeks GTA and IBM have also worked closely with GETS agencies to coordinate revised schedules for all remaining transformation efforts (i.e., SCON plus email upgrades, file services upgrades, etc.). Transformation is to be completed in 2014.
Big data offers big opportunities for state government, especially when meaningful connections emerge from looking at existing data in new ways. The result can be added utility for those you serve, and that theme came to life at a November 19th panel discussion sponsored by the TAG Government Technology and TAG Information Security societies. State Chief Technology Officer Steve Nichols moderated discussion among a panel of big data experts. The event, hosted by GTA at its 47 Trinity Avenue offices in Atlanta, is one of several organized each year by the Goverment Technology society within the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG). Public sector employees may attend these government society events free of charge and capitalize on insights from IT industry experts on the latest technology topics.
GOVTalks, the new informational series offered by the GeorgiaGov Interactive team within GTA, will offer its second session January 15 with a look at website usability. The focus will be making it quick and easy to find information on your website. That's often the difference between a positive and a negative experience for your site users. Each quarter GeorgiaGov Interactive will bring you a new topic, with a broader goal of helping you make it easy for Georgians to find the information and services they need from their state government.
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We welcome your comments about service delivery, the state's IT transformation and related topics.
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