The first step in this reduction is a directive to state agencies to move and co-locate their computer systems, which was issued in advance of the Nov. 5 release of a state RFP for a highly secure, industry-standard, third-party data center service. The data center will, within two years, house the state’s most highly critical computer systems — up to 40 percent of combined executive branch business applications. The rest of the state’s systems will move within five years to co-location space in several upgraded state facilities.
In a 2008 independent study of state data centers, none were found to meet industry standards, and the risk of failure and loss of data was evaluated to be high for many of the data centers. A co-location of the state’s data centers is expected to reduce risks, improve both security and efficiency, and bring down ongoing costs.
“This important business decision for the state represents a cost-effective way to lower our risks while minimizing investment and move costs,” Khanna said. “Doing it together provides economies of scale and efficiencies no agency can realize on its own.”
The co-location of data centers will produce the following benefits:
- Greater efficiency – Current 36-plus independently located and managed data centers yield three times the state’s combined needed space.
- Reduced risk – None of the state’s current facilities meet necessary industry standards; the state carries unacceptably high risk.
- Cost avoidance – Costs to fix and maintain current data centers at an acceptable level of risk is five times the cost of co-location.
- Greater agility and performance – Co-location strategy improves security and interoperability, and opens the door for more economies and efficiencies.
