A replacement IBM mainframe unit has been successfully installed preventing a shutdown in the event of a disaster at the state’s primary data center. Nelson Moe, chief information officer of the commonwealth and head of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) reports, “... the replacement unit is up and running and ready to provide services in case of a disaster.” The unit provides services for 12 executive branch agencies.

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CIO Nelson Moe gives an update on infrastructure transition activities in this month's edition of Network News. Also included is registration information for COVITS, IT Project Management Summit dates, reminder for agency IT strategic plans and availability of Microsoft Power BI. 

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The Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) has filed two motions in Richmond Circuit Court seeking relief against Northrop Grumman for failure to complete actions required to transition from the company’s information technology (IT) infrastructure contract with the commonwealth to new suppliers.

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued an alert this month on scammers posing as FTC officials who contact individuals and claim they have won prizes from a charity contest. While this is a new malicious campaign, scammers use these basic tactics time and time again with slightly different wording to take advantage of unsuspecting individuals. Since this is so commonplace, it is worth exploring how to identify these schemes, and how to go about reporting them in the event that scammers target you.

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