Government Technology
Government Technology: State & Local Government News Articles

Virginia Outsourcing Improves Disaster Recovery, Officials Say



Print
Comment
VITA Virginia

Jun 11, 2008, By Andy Opsahl, Features Editor

Eyes are peeled on the progress of Virginia's extensive outsourcing of IT to Northrop Grumman. The state recently boasted success with the partnership's first disaster-recovery test. The commonwealth managed to restore "mission-critical" IT functions within 24 hours, compared to the roughly 72 hours it took previously.

The test coordinated 135 employees from 19 of the state's more than 70 agencies. The Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) selected participating agencies, such as the Department of Social Services and the Department of Taxation, based on whether they had functions needing immediate backup during a disaster.

Virginia officials said the improvement stems from the state creating its own backup data center within quick driving distance of its main facility in Chesterfield, Va.
The new facility strengthens Virginia's ability to prepare for disasters and practice recovery techniques. In previous disaster drills, IT workers transported backup tapes to a back-up data center the state rented in Pennsylvania. After arriving, those workers burned time loading numerous tapes before resuming IT operations. Every hour was critical because the state's contract allotted only 48 to 72 hours for the test, said Fred Duball, director of the Service Management Organization of VITA.

"If we ran out of ‘test window' using the old vendor, we had to de-install our stuff and leave," Duball said. The state also eliminated the risk of the vendor facility already being occupied during a disaster test.

Naturally the state now use its own backup data center for as long as it wants, and firing up that facility is faster than plugging into a rented one. "We no longer have to run out to Pennsylvania with tapes," Duball said. "The transactions occur automatically across the wire."

While Virginia only needed 24 hours to restore "mission-critical" functions, it spent four days on the overall test. With no duration limit on using its new backup data center, the state had extra time to test functions it previously couldn't.

VITA also credits the faster IT-backup process to technology upgrades, which included disk replication and "virtual tape," a system that mimics a traditional tape backup by using disks instead.

VITA plans to run these tests at least once a year and employs 10 to 15 people to prepare for them.

"It's not like you plan for three months and you're done," Duball said. "Things are always changing. Business requirements are always changing. Technology is always upgraded. If I update something in my primary data center, I've got to do the same in my backup data center."

VITA and Northrop Grumman conducted the test without disrupting normal state operations, said Duball. "We did all of this behind the scenes."


If You Liked This Article, You May Also Like...


Latest Government Technology News


Industry Solutions for Government

Read real world deployments of technology in government from our sponsors.

View All Industry Solutions

Related Products and Services

Marketplace



This section
brought to you by:


Mobile Communications Survey Executive Summary

More than 200 responses were captured to help gauge the effectiveness and types of communications and situational awareness capabilities currently deployed for emergency response. View the Executive Summary Now!

Dispatch Operations and Interoperability

A New Era in Public Safety BlackBerry® smartphones running on Sprint networks deliver a wide range of applications that are transforming public safety operations.


Hurricane Preparedness Tips When a hurricane hits, are you prepared to keep in touch?


Case Study - Morris County, New Jersey The Morris County Communications Center upgraded to a new trunked radio system with the benefits of a cellular network, extending coverage beyond county lines


Case Study - Iredell County, North Carolina Spanning over 570 sq miles, it became imperative that the Iredell County Emergency Communications, Operations and Management extend it's communications systems to enhance reliability, security, and coverage.


Case Study - City of Anaheim, California The City of Anaheim saw an opportunity to leverage existing GST and partner with nearby cities to enhance safety operations through data interoperability.


Case Study - Charlottesville, Virginia Fire Department Taking advantage of a range of interoperability solution, the Charlottesville Fire Department has achieved a network that can serve as backup to their existing public safety network.


Sprint ERT Go-Kit with GST Optima Rapid, interoperable communications for emergencies, drills and field exercises.


Optimal Interoperability Until recently it was not possible to cost effectively connect commercial networks to LMR systems. Improvements in communications technology have resulted in greatly enhanced operational capability and have reduced the log-term cost of communications system ownership.


Multi-agency interoperability for Public Safety Establishing cross-agency, real-time situational awareness is critical to effective incident management as well as daily resource management.


Video


DHS Grant Links

DHS Grants and Assistance Programs Link to overview of available grants administered by The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)


Fact Sheet: Fiscal Year 2008 Preparedness Grants Major changes in funding and focus for 2008 DHS grant programs


Remarks on 2008 Homeland Security Grant Guidance DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff and FEMA Administrator David Paulison


$1.8 billion in DHS Homeland Security Grant Program Awards


Funding Public Safety Communications Whether you are a law enforcement agency, looking for funding to support an interoperable communications solution or a school, seeking to improve communications between building administrators, grants may provide the funding you need to implement a robust, scalable communication system.


Yes! I would like more information about Sprint's dispatch operations and interoperability solutions.