IT Partnership Service Areas

As VITA's private sector partner, Northrop Grumman brings $270 million in up-front capital investment to completely transform the states IT infrastructure. Transformation is comprised of the following eight service areas:

Messaging Services $25 million investment

Messaging Services

Messaging is the creation, storage, exchange, and management of e-mail over a communications network. Transformation will:

  • move more than 80 state agencies to a single, enterprise-wide Outlook e-mail system
  • make e-mail addresses of all executive agency employees available in a single directory
  • improve inter-agency file sharing and security

To Be / As Is
As is To be
There are more than 40 email systems and address lists and unsecured messaging. There will be a centralized messaging system with a single global address list and secured messaging.

Desktops - $35 million investment

Desktops

Improvements will be made to personal computers, laptops and tablets. Transformation will:

  • standardize and modernize approximately 67,000 computers over the next three years in more than 80 state agencies
  • replace many computers with top of the line personal computers that are standard across agencies for improved compatibility and servicing
  • use the Windows 2003 Office Suite and other applications currently used at agencies
  • refresh desktops, laptops and tablets while maintaining agency-specific applications
  • deploy standard desktop management systems
  • consolidate network printers

To Be / As Is
As is To be
A hodgepodge of 67,000 desktop and laptop computers across state agencies is antiquated and requires on-site attention for most needs.

There is no statewide standard for replacing computers to ensure agencies have the latest technology to serve citizens.		 Standardized modern computers will permit helpdesk staff to be more familiar with models and help them to better serve users. This will reduce the need for multiple processes.

There will be a scheduled replacement of computers.

Hewlett Packard is supplying computer hardware (desktops, laptops and tablets) for the IT Partnership.

Click here for equipment standards.

Helpdesk - $10 million investment

Helpdesk

The helpdesk will become centralized, where state agencies will call one source to get their computer problems solved. Transformation will:

  • reduce the number of individual agency helpdesks to one centralized service
  • provide around-the-clock coverage and reliability

To Be / As Is
As is To be
Agencies currently provide IT helpdesk service of some sort. In addition to needlessly duplicating services, most lack the basic problem diagnosis and response tools to determine and fix root causes, not just address symptoms. There will be one centralized statewide helpdesk that will use a new system called Peregrine to report, log, track, resolve and prevent computer problems. The helpdesk will operate out of a new data center - the Southwest Virginia Solutions Center in Russell County.

Mainframe and Servers - $50 million investment

Mainframe and Servers

A mainframe is a very large computer capable of supporting thousands of users at the same time, while a server is a computer or program on a network that manages network resources. Transformation will:

  • provide new IBM and Unisys mainframes and centralize them in a new data center
  • modernize and consolidate the number of servers
  • move servers to a single, secure location where they can be more easily monitored and maintained

To Be / As Is
As is To be
Three mainframes are located in various locations across the state.

There are more than 3,000 servers at numerous agency locations. The servers use only about one-quarter of total capacity.		 New mainframes will be located in a new data center - the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center in Chesterfield County.

There will be new and better servers and fewer of them. They will be consolidated to 1,000 in the Chesterfield County data center. The consolidation will save time and money.

The mainframe and servers will have back-up services at another new data center - the Southwest Virginia Solutions Center in Russell County.

Network - $60 million investment

Network

A network is a group of two or more computer systems linked together. Transformation will:

  • modernize the entire data network throughout the Commonwealth, resulting in a standardized and secure network for current and future applications
  • centralize the network operations center

To Be / As Is
As is To be
Network technology is fragmented and inconsistent among state agencies.

There are more than 85 connections to the Internet.

Networks can not easily adapt to increased technology demands. Many times needs outgrow the networks.		 There will be one centralized multi-service network across state agencies. The network will be more robust, reliable and secure.

Internet connections will be consolidated, increasing security and reliability.

The enterprise-wide network will be able to easily adapt to increased technology demands. The network will remain robust as technology needs grow and change.

Security - $10 million investment

Security

Improvements will be made to information security monitoring and response. Transformation will:

    To Be / As Is
    As is To be
    Current agency data networks are a mixed bag of overlapping, often redundant systems with varying levels of security protection and no comprehensive capability to detect and proactively react to cyber attacks.

    There are more than 85 Internet connections, making it difficult to adequately defend.    		 There will be consistent and standard security services statewide that will be centrally managed. This will allow for better security protection. There will be a highly trained centralized incident response team.

    There will be two Internet gateways that will make it possible to strongly defend.

    Voice & Video - $20 million investment

    Voice and Video

    Significant upgrades will be made to telephone and video systems. Transformation will:

    • provide phone service using the Internet resulting in better and more efficient service

    To Be / As Is
    As is To be
    Different telephone systems across state agencies result in inconsistent service and higher costs. A modernized and standard telephone service that sends voice information in digital form using the Internet will result in better quality and cost savings.

    IT Facilities - $60 million investment

    IT Facilities

    Two data centers will serve VITA and state agencies, local governments, education and other government entities. Transformation will:

    • provide a new data center and office building in Chesterfield County and a new disaster recovery center and helpdesk operations in Russell County.

    To Be / As Is
    As is To be
    State government data centers have multiplied to more than 100 locations. Some are no more than storage closets, and many are without adequate security, fire protection and back-up power. Two data centers will serve VITA and state agencies, local governments, education and other government entities.

    A 192,000 square-foot operations center in Chesterfield County - the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center - is VITA's headquarters and a Northrop Grumman support center. The facility houses more than 600 VITA and Northrop Grumman employees and serves as Virginia's primary data center. Governor Tim Kaine and representatives of Northrop Grumman, VITA and Chesterfield County broke ground for the CESC on May 23, 2006.

    A 101,000 square-foot help desk and backup data center facility - the Southwest Virginia Solutions Center in Russell County - will create more than 400 new jobs. An estimated 90 percent of this labor pool will be drawn from local counties and towns. This center, opening in late fall 2007, will become Northrop Grumman's East Coast Service Delivery Hub.

    Click here for an image of the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center

    Click here for an image of the Southwest Virginia Solutions Center