September 2011 VITA Service Bulletin

Volume 11, Number 9

From the CIO

Governor Bob McDonnell will be the opening speaker at COVITS, and I greatly appreciate his participation in this important event. His attendance indicates commitment to the strategic use of information technology (IT) to improve and streamline the business of government. It's an honor to have him at the event.

I also look forward to congratulating a number of locality representatives during presentation of the 2011 Governor's Technology Awards. Our localities are recognized technology leaders, and the awards program will spotlight these efforts once again. After the ceremony, listing of all of the winners will be posted on the COVITS website, together with executive summaries of the honored programs and contact information for each project. I encourage you to access these resources as a helpful source of ideas for your own efforts to improve government.

If you haven't yet registered for COVITS, it's not too late - and if you are already registered, I look forward to seeing you at the event.

See the COVITS website for full program details, registration and Governor's Technology Award winners.

VITA welcomes a new Northrop Grumman program manager this week. Jim Kane has been on site for two months, shadowing outgoing Sam Abbate to make for a smooth transition.

Please contact me at cio@vita.virginia.gov with your ideas, questions or concerns.

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VITA contracts for printers offer versatile capabilities

VITA's printer contracts offer a number of different, and sometimes business-specific, capabilities.

One such sub-category is for wide-format printers. These contracts offer printers that can produce maps, posters, signs and much more. VITA awarded 10 contracts in this area. For a complete list, visit wide-format printer contracts on the VITA website.

Another sub-category includes high speed copiers. These copiers are designed to handle large volume print jobs. VITA added leasing as an option with these contracts to make the acquisition more affordable. Details regarding these contacts can be found under high-speed printer contracts online. at www.vita.virginia.gov/procurement/contractbrowse.cfm?qscat=1000017.

Questions about either can be directed to Greg Scearce, contracts manager, at gregory.scearce@vita.virginia.gov.

CoVA wireless audit update

As reported to you previously, VITA contracted with Tangoe Inc., www.tangoe.com, a leading telecommunications expense management provider, to analyze information on VITA wireless customers' usage trends and to make recommendations for savings. This initiative applies to cellular phones (including smartphones) and air cards, and leverages an innovative funding model that incurs no upfront cost to the Commonwealth or localities, but instead provides payment to Tangoe based upon savings accepted and implemented by the customer.

Tangoe's wireless audits were prepared first for executive branch agencies; these now have been completed. A second wave of audits for other agencies, institutions of higher education and for localities is getting underway, and these VITA wireless customers should receive their results and Tangoe's recommendations later this month or in October. Preliminary findings from the executive branch agency audits suggest that there will be substantial opportunities for most customers to reduce their wireless expenses, both from terminating unnecessary devices (those showing zero usage during the three-month audit period), and from adopting Tangoe's recommendations to optimize by switching to lower-cost wireless plans from the current carrier.

This project offers an opportunity for VITA to assist with lowering costs without reducing service. VITA's remaining wireless customers will receive specific information shortly.

For more information

Read information on the CoVA wireless audit project on the VITA website 

Contact the VITA project manager, John Sheldon, by email: john.sheldon@vita.virginia.gov 

Governor's Technology Award winners to be announced Sept. 26

Honorees in nine categories will receive Governor's Technology Awards during a lunchtime ceremony at COVITS on Sept. 26. Secretary of Technology Jim Duffey and CIO Sam Nixon will present the awards on behalf of Governor Bob McDonnell.

View full information about the 2011 Governor's Technology Awards

Northrop Grumman appoints Jim Kane to VITA program

Northrop Grumman has appointed Jim Kane as vice president and program manager for the VITA program, effective Sept 19. In this role, Kane will be responsible for the company's overall program management of the IT Infrastructure Partnership between Northrop Grumman and the Commonwealth of Virginia, which is overseen by VITA. Kane is a former Virginia resident.

"I am pleased to welcome Jim Kane to our program," said CIO Sam Nixon. "His experience as a CIO and in-depth IT background will benefit the Commonwealth as we continue to work together to enable the business of government. We look forward to working with Jim and welcome him and his wife back to Virginia."

Read the press release

VITA employee has public safety article published

 David Warner, VITA public safety communications, had an article published in the September issue of Mission Critical Magazine (see pages 10-14). The article, entitled "The Latest on 700 MHz State Licenses," outlines issues, expectations, risks and rules for state licensee stakeholders utilizing 700 MHz for state geographic channels.

Read the article

Learn more about VITA's Public Safety Division

GIS conference materials, contest winners now online

The 2011 Virginia GIS Conference was held Sept. 19 in Glen Allen; participation was robust, with a 33% increase over the previous year. Presentation materials and winners of the GIS poster contest now are posted on the event website. The conference was sponsored by the Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN) and the Virginia Association for Mapping and Land Information Systems (VAMLIS).

August VGIN News Brief

The August edition of the VGIN News Brief focuses on bringing geographic information systems education to Virginia's Community Colleges. The bi-monthly newsletter is one of several means of communicating the GIS coordinating activities of VGIN, targeting customers in local and state government, as well as academia, non-profits, federal government and the public.

September Information Security Tips: Phishing

The September issue of Information Security Tips provides users with information on phishing campaigns, which are attempts by individuals or groups to solicit personal information from unsuspecting users by employing social engineering techniques.  This month's e-newsletter focuses on some recent campaigns and provides guidance for protecting yourself and your information. Information Security Tips provides information that home computer users will find valuable in protecting against cyber and information attacks.

Read September Information Security Tips