Fast forward Georgia, Vol. 2, no. 2 (Mar./Apr. 2003)

March/April 2003

A Publication of the Georgia Technology Authority

How's your system running? Agencies track data center applications over the web

State agencies can soon track the operating sta-

tus of computer applications and systems at the

state's data center simply by visiting a new Web

site.

GTA recently made the site available to several

state agencies. It enables them to check the cur-

rent performance of systems around the clock and

view reports of past performance for time periods

they specify. The site will be available to all agen-

cies May 1.

"The site delivers metrics so agencies can see

how applications and systems are doing," said

David Duncan, who manages GTA's Monitoring

Center. "It's an important tool to help us manage

the service we provide."

The monitoring

center was estab-

lished last year to

identify potential

data processing

problems as they

emerge so techni-

cians can inter-

vene before

agencies experi-

ence slowdowns

or service inter-

ruptions.

The new data center Web site makes it possible for agencies to track the current performance of applications and systems around the clock.

The data center's new Web site extends some of the monitoring

center's capabilities to agencies whose computer

applications are supported by GTA. In the same

way a car's dashboard provides the driver with

gauges to quickly and easily see how the engine is

running, an application status "dashboard" uses

elements like green, yellow and red lights to indi-

cate how particular systems are running.

Technicians responsible for monitoring the systems

can add their own detailed notes about operations.

Some performance reports use bar charts to indicate the amount of time applications have been running without interruption. Agencies can view an "Enterprise Up Time" bar chart to find out if service interruptions occurred in a specified time period, and detailed notes describe what caused the interruptions and how long they lasted.
The site also includes calendars indicating when specific tasks, such as systems maintenance and large print jobs, will take place. Production information helps agencies plan their work so they can maintain operating efficiency.
Agencies can e-mail GTA from the site to ask questions or provide comments.
The Web site is in keeping with the data center's guiding principles, which call for
notifying customer agencies immediately about operating problems and keeping them informed during the resolution period;
minimizing service disruptions by carefully scheduling maintenance or upgrades;
testing system changes thoroughly before moving them into production;
analyzing service problems carefully to find and correct their root cause; and
finding alternative ways of delivering information services during service disruptions.
Volume 2, No. 2
Inside this issue
Specialized services contract helps agencies with tech projects . . . . . . . . . . . .page 2
GTA closes door on computer threat. . . . . . page 2
Achieving state's tech goals through collaboration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 3

Georgia Technology Authority

Quick thinking required in IT emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 4

Specialized services contract helps agencies

with technology projects

A new Specialized Consulting Services contract makes it easier and faster for state and local agencies to solicit proposals from contractors in five disciplines.
Agencies no longer need to conduct costly, timeconsuming searches for qualified contractors when seeking assistance with technology projects in the areas of
budgeting
planning
business process review and re-engineering
independent verification and validation and
project management.

This approach provides each certified contractor with an equal opportunity to compete for state business. If an agency believes its work requirements extend across more than one discipline, it must submit a statement of need to each certified contractor in all appropriate disciplines. Contractors are not required to respond to every statement of need.
Agencies using the contract also agree to provide GTA with an evaluation of the contractor's performance when work is completed. This information will enable GTA to ensure that contractors comply with the contract's performance requirements.

In establishing the contract, GTA identified contractors interested in working with government agencies. Those who agreed to specific performance standards were placed on the contract's list of certified contractors, and agencies may impose additional requirements. There are a total of 126 contractor listings in all five disciplines, although some contractors are included in more than one discipline. The contract will be re-opened later this year to give other interested companies an opportunity to be added to the list.
When using the contract, agencies submit a statement of need to every contractor in the specific discipline for which they are seeking assistance.

On the Web at www.gta.georgia.gov, Procurement > Enterprise Contracts
Specialized Consulting Services contract
Guidelines for contract users, including a statement of need template and contractor performance report card
Frequently Asked Questions

GTA closes the door on a computer threat

A new computer worm, known as the

"Slammer," attacked thousands of computers and

interfered with Internet connectivity worldwide in

late January. Reported to be the fastest computer

worm ever recorded, the Slammer worm compro-

mised vulnerable computers, then randomly

scanned and selected new tar-

gets on the Internet.

". . .the state conducted its business without interruption. We were alerted early, and we responded early."

Quick action prevented disruption to the state's computer networks. The Slammer worm was first discovered in the U.S. around 1 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, and Internet

Security Systems (ISS), the

Georgia-based security firm that

manages the state's firewalls, issued an alert.

Those responsible for securing the state network

took action to identify the threat in detail using intru-

sion detection systems such as ISS Real Secure.

The attack was promptly blocked at the firewall.

GTA immediately notified the Information Security Officers (ISOs) in state agencies. The ISOs responded quickly and conducted a verification of the SQL servers in their agencies.
"Thanks to a coordinated effort between Internet Security Systems, GTA and the agency ISOs, we quickly closed the door on additional attacks, and the state conducted its business without interruption," said GTA's Bob Wynn, state chief information security officer. "We were alerted early, and we responded early."
Although the Slammer worm was not destructive, it did a great deal of harm around the world by spreading so aggressively and blocking networks. According to ISS, the worm affected global connectivity and brought down ATM networks, credit card sites, bill paying systems and 911 call centers. Mr. Wynn said some states suffered damage that took days to clean up.
"Fortunately, the Slammer worm was a nonevent for Georgia," Mr. Wynn said.

Fast Forward

Georgia

Page 2

Achieving state's technology goals

through collaboration

Georgia has ambitious technology-related

"intelligent" communities in the world by the

goals, most of which have been established by the

World Teleport Association in 2001.

General Assembly in recent years, such as making

The installation of a community-wide fiber

it easier for citizens to access their

optic system for high-speed Internet

government and promoting economic One of our jobs is to

access was one of the factors lead-

development through the availability of modern information technology (IT) services in every county.
No organization can accomplish

make people outside state government aware of Georgia's IT initiatives.

ing to Newnan's selection as a 2001 City of Excellence by the Georgia Municipal Association. Newnan has a population of about 16,000 and is

such goals on its own, and GTA col-

also located southwest of Atlanta.

laborates routinely with state agencies. Success

Ms. Rhoades-Johnson also represents GTA on

also requires reaching beyond the boundaries of

the board of the Georgia Electronic Commerce

state government. It requires the coordinated

Association (GECA), a not-for-profit coalition

efforts of public, private, education and business

of public and private sector organizations

sectors, and GTA partners with each one in multiple concerned with public policy affecting such

ways.

issues as e-commerce and electronic

"Collaboration is the key," said Sondra Rhoades- records, signatures and transactions.

Johnson, who represents GTA in many collaborative

GTA is helping to coordinate a town hall

efforts and leads GTA's Office of External Affairs and meeting proposed by GECA for later this

Business Development.

year. The meeting will bring together civic

"One of our jobs is to make people outside state leaders, educators, business leaders, and

government aware of Georgia's IT initiatives," she

state and local government officials to share

said. As an example, she cited the Microsoft

ideas for addressing the "digital divide."

Enterprise Agreement, which allows state and local The intent is for participants to identify ways

government agencies to purchase Microsoft desktop software at a substantial discount. So far, 16

they can work together to address the issues of technology access, education

Sondra Rhoades Johnson

counties and eight cities in Georgia have taken

and economics as an opportunity for communities

advantage of the discount.

across Georgia, Ms. Rhoades-Johnson said.

"The agreement is laying the foundation for

"The projects that GECA works on oftentimes

future collaborative initiatives that wouldn't be pos- allow groups to develop relationships for long-term

sible if we didn't have people on the same plat-

collaboration," she said.

form," she continued.

Partnering for technology education

Focusing on economic development, access to technology

GTA also partners with educators to promote science and technology careers for middle school

Ms. Rhoades-Johnson is a member of the

students. For the past two summers, Ms. Rhoades-

Technology Advisory Board of Georgia Tech's

Johnson has coordinated the CyberSisters Summer

Economic Development Institute, which looks at

Web Camp, which gives girls an opportunity to

ways technology can help businesses and commu- learn about technology while working on a kids'

nities grow.

Web site about Georgia. This year, GTA is sponsor-

Among other priorities, the advisory board

ing camps in Atlanta and Savannah. Joining GTA

focuses on the availability of modern IT services in in Savannah are Savannah-Chatham County Public

rural areas. Some smaller communities have actu- Schools, Savannah Technical College and

ally surpassed poor urban areas in their use of

Savannah College of Art and Design.

technology, she said.

One of the challenges for this year's camp is

Delegations from countries as diverse as

redesigning the kids' page so it conforms with

Bulgaria and Japan have visited LaGrange to www.georgia.gov, the state's Web portal to state

learn about its efforts to create a "wired" com- government. "They will follow all the steps and

munity by offering Internet access to every

procedures as state agencies and ultimately

household. A community of 26,000 residents Georgia's cities and counties," Ms. Rhoades-

located 65 miles southwest of Atlanta,

Johnson said. "We're working together to bring the

LaGrange was named one of the top seven

best resources to the project."

Fast Forward

Georgia

Page 3

Quick thinking, cooperation required in IT emergency

An information security breach occurs in the state's networks. The situation rapidly escalates, and IT and management professionals must act decisively to protect the state's computer systems and restore security. Agency commissioners, IT directors, information security officers (ISOs), network administrators, legal counsel and information officers must work closely to assess the damage and determine the best solution as quickly as possible.
Fortunately, this security breach was not a real emergency, but part of a training exercise for newly appointed ISOs in Georgia state agencies. Participants played the roles and saw firsthand what is required in a security emergency.

More than 60 people from 37 state agencies attended the security "boot camp," which was developed and hosted by GTA. The three-day training covered security program development, enterprise security policy, response to cyber events and basic electronic evidence preservation. "Solving hypothetical security situations helps ISOs think through what they would do in a real emergency," said Bob Wynn, state chief ISO. "It helps us standardize our practices and encourage a coordinated approach, which will lead to better IT security throughout the state."
A session planned for this summer likely will focus on technical issues including firewalls and intrusion detection technologies.

PMP/CAPM study groups to begin

State agency staff interested in earning certification as a project management professional (PMP) or a certified associate in project management (CAPM) are invited to participate in study groups facilitated by GTA's Office of Program Management. The CAPM is a new certification offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI) for less-experienced project managers.
The study groups will prepare participants to take a certification test administered by PMI. With over 86,000 members, PMI is the world's leading not-for-profit professional association for projectmanagement professionals.

The groups are open to anyone involved in project and program management, and participation is free. The only charge is for study materials, which cost about $80. The study groups will be led by one of GTA's PMP-certified consultants. Groups will meet for 90 minutes once a week for 10 weeks. Locations will be determined based on enrollment and participants' convenience.
Study groups are scheduled to start the week of May 12. The GTA Office of Program Management is a Corporate Registered Education Provider.
For more information, e-mail PMOMethodology@gta.ga.gov

Partnering to boost project success

GTA's Office of Program Management is partnering with the Atlanta chapter of the Project Management Institute (PMI) to pilot a corporate liaison program. Project managers in state government will be able to participate in educational programs and interact with their peers in other state agencies and the private sector. The pilot project aims to use enhanced professional development opportunities to promote the discipline of project management and improve project successes.

The corporate liaison program will sponsor several upcoming activities: Downtown PMI-Atlanta Chapter meetings
on April 30, May 28 & June 25 at the Railroad Depot Blue Room, 11:30 a.m. 1 p.m. Project Management Symposium on June 27 at the Capitol Education Center, 8 a.m. noon.
For more information, e-mail PMOMethodology@gta.ga.gov

Fast Forward

Georgia

Fast Forward Georgia
Published bi-monthly and available online at www.gta.georgia.gov 100 Peachtree Street, Suite 2300, Atlanta, Georgia 30303 404-463-2300, FAX 404-463-2370
Paula Calhoun and Michael Clark, Editors; Hettie Smith, Designer

Tom Wade Cigdem Delano
Steve Nichols Chris Tomlinson

Acting GTA Executive Director & State CIO , twade@gta.ga.gov Deputy Director & Acting Chief Operating Officer, cdelano@gta.ga.gov Deputy Director & Chief Technology Officer, snichols@gta.ga.gov Assistant to the CIO for Policy & Deputy General Counsel, ctomlinson@gta.ga.gov

James D. Lester III, Chairman, GTA Board of Directors

Page 4