Georgia Enterprise Technology Services (GETS) update, Vol. 5, Issue 2 (Feb. 4, 2013)

Georgia Enterprise Technology Services (GETS) Update
Volume 5, Issue No. 2 February 4, 2013

GETS to facilitate informed IT service and spending choices
We work hard to present a balanced view of the GETS program in our monthly e-newsletter. We don't try to minimize the pains and challenges we face together, but we can't overlook the benefits that the GETS program is bringing to agencies and state government as a whole. As a joint effort among GTA, agencies and service providers, GETS has made tremendous progress. We have improved the reliability and security of services, increased the transparency of the state's IT enterprise, and reduced costs.
Still, we know we have areas that need improvement. We met with full-service GETS agencies in December to assist them in meeting the 10% IT budget reduction required by OPB. Those meetings highlighted for us the importance of ensuring that agencies have the data and tools they need to make sound decisions about their consumption and spending for GETS services.
Last month, I shared with the GETS Agency Management Committee our commitment to improve reporting, streamline processes and realign services with continually evolving market offerings. This yearlong effort will include several work streams:
Consumption Management and Data Accuracy Financial Management - Billing, Disputes and Forecasting Investment Portfolio Management Training and Communication Service and Pricing Realignment
We'll take a collaborative approach, with involvement from agencies, the Governor's Office, OPB and our service providers.
This work is important for all of us, and I appreciate your support and participation. Together, we will keep GETS on a trajectory toward success and achieve the best value for agencies and the state.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Calvin Rhodes State Chief Information Officer GTA Executive Director

In This Issue
Asset management: A key link in managing IT consumption Upgrading to Windows 7 operating system in 2013 Annual IT Report: State spends $733M on IT
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Asset management: A key link in managing IT consumption
With heightened attention to managing IT consumption, GETS agencies absolutely want to understand what volume of IT services they're consuming. Volumes, especially in end user computing services, are part of GETS asset management tracking. So, it makes sense customers' interest in accurate asset management data runs high.
At the quarterly GETS asset management workshop in January, we shared ideas with agencies for ensuring better accuracy of their asset data. Timely asset tracking was emphasized, and processes for asset disposal and for reporting assets lost or stolen were reviewed. Across the board, diligence in asset handling and coordination among processes promote accurate, reliable asset tracking.
This round of the quarterly workshop attracted not just asset management focals, but also billing personnel and even CIOs from GETS agencies. All appreciate what's to be gained from solid asset management. GTA and our service provider partners are pushing toward stronger asset management practices. As part of that, we have adopted a new infrastructure asset management service level agreement (SLA) that blends measures of accuracy and timeliness of asset management for a more rigorous standard.
Through asset management, the GETS program can deliver the invaluable IT service consumption data customers need for making informed choices about their IT spending.
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Upgrading to Windows 7 operating system in 2013
With Microsoft ending its support for Windows XP operating system in April 2014, GETS PCs must be upgraded to Windows 7. GTA, IBM and Dell will work with GETS agencies to make the change by the end of December 2013, ensuring security and operational provisions associated with an up-to-date version of Windows are maintained. Closeout activities will take place in early 2014.
At a January meeting of the Agency Management Committee, IBM and Dell laid out plans for accomplishing the Windows 7 upgrade. Both providers will coordinate with agencies to schedule and perform the work.
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Annual IT Report: State spends $733M on IT
Of the more than $733 million Georgia state agencies spent on information technology in FY 2012, $214.6 million went for IT infrastructure services, including those provided through the GETS program. That figure compares favorably to what other states of similar size and complexity spent on IT infrastructure operations.
That's according to the Annual State IT Report from GTA, a consolidation of data on many of the state's strategic technology investments. It serves as a report card to state leaders, taxpayers and other stakeholders.
Georgia outspent its peer states on IT application development and support, laying out $519 million in FY 2012 for these areas falling outside IT infrastructure services and guided by individual agencies.
In addition, the state's IT project portfolio in FY 2012 tracked projects totaling $321 million, which included projects in the planning phase valued at $124 million. Overall, IT projects increased by $86 million from FY 2011, primarily due to more healthcare projects.
While providing the most comprehensive view of the state's IT spending available, the report does not offer a complete accounting. Some state entities (e.g., the judicial branch and the University System of Georgia) are not required to report IT expenditures. Also, 15 of the 74 agencies required to submit data did not do so - the same number of nonrespondents as in FY 2011.
The report goes beyond technology spending to examine how state government can take advantage of evolving technology in such areas as mobile and cloud computing. Cyber security and the state's efforts to further secure its data are highlighted, along with strategies to enhance collaboration among agency business and technology leaders, GTA and the state's IT service providers.
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