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New Virginia IT Systems Lack Network Backup
1sockchuck writes "Virginia's new state IT system is experiencing downtime in key services because of a mind-boggling oversight: the state apparently neglected to require network backup in a 10-year, $2.3 billion outsourcing deal with Northrop Grumman. The issue is causing serious downtime for state services. This fall the Virginia DMV has suffered 12 system outages spanning a total of more than 100 hours, and downtime hampered the state transportation department when a state of emergency was declared during the Nov. 11 Northeaster."
Most forget that the network provided by the NG crooks is NOT part of the Comprehensive Infrastructure Agreement (CIA). It is a seperate agreement that is a fixed cost agreement under which NG was supposed to replace “like for like”. They were supposed to install an MPLS network. MPLS (Multi Protocol Label Switching) allows for the prioritization of traffic to allow Voice traffic to travel over the same circuit as the data. It also supposed to be intelligent enough to encrypt data to essentially allow a VPN to be created from point-to-point.
None of the VPN has been done as promised, very few sites have used the VOIP option unless dictated to by VITA as part of new construction and most sites complain about network performance. Some agencies had totally redundant networks but were forced to pay more for less. 65% of VITA staff make over 90,000 a year. Again we pay more for less.
While I am not a NG fan, interestingly enough, most state managers at Agencies will tell you that working directly with NG allows things to get done, VITA just gets in the way. VITA wants to always be the interface, Waste Fraud and Abuse to pay high salaries for mostly unqualified folks. Throw out VITA and let the agencies be treated like customers by NG.
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