Consolidation: A Guidebook for Government

Aug 2009 , Sponsored by AT&T

Introduction

AT&T is pleased to sponsor Consolidation - A Guidebook for Government. We hope you will find it to be an informative resource.

At AT&T, our mission is to connect people with their world, everywhere they live and work, and do it better than anyone else. We are fulfilling this mission by creating new solutions for businesses and consumers and by continuing to be a customer service leader in the communications industry.

Nowhere is it more important to have effective communications solutions than in government. Whether it's issuing drivers' licenses, processing tax returns or maintaining a safe environment, people need to know they can count on their government to be there to meet their needs, regardless of the situation or event. AT&T is proud of the collaborative relationships we have developed over the years with the government entities we serve. Together, we will continue to identify leading-edge solutions that help government agencies serve their constituents more effectively and efficiently.

Consolidation is one of the top issues all governments are facing today. It is our hope that, as a reader of this Guidebook, you will gain a better understanding of the key issues involved in consolidating your networks and operations. We would be pleased to work side by side with you to identify solutions for your organization. There is no doubt that, by working together, we can help you meet your objectives in this challenging economic environment.

WHAT TO CONSOLIDATE

Numerous functions can be consolidated for lower costs, more efficiency and other benefits. Some of the most popular areas for consolidation are:

Networks
Servers
Data Centers
Communications
E-mail
Storage
Wireless
Procurement
Payment Engine
Asset Management
ERP/Financial/HR
Help Desk
Desktops
Imaging
Security Services

WHY CONSOLIDATE

The popularity of IT consolidation has risen rapidly in recent years, and with good reason. It simply makes sense to combine numerous devices or systems. If you take 88 servers and condense those down to 10, you're operating more efficiently and at a much lower cost. You're also taking better care of the environment as you use much less energy for power and cooling.

Technological advances in security, virtualization, Internet protocol (IP), remote management and other areas have made consolidation an obvious choice for many organizations. Businesses and governments are consolidating their networks, servers, data centers, communications, e-mail and many other systems. In many cases, state mandates are calling for it.

Consolidation is becoming a standard protocol for governments that want to improve efficiency. Especially in today's tough economic climate, government must consider what consolidation can offer: economies of scale, significant cost savings, increased efficiency, better information sharing and much more.

The following pages contain useful information on why IT consolidation has become so common - and why government should make maximum use of it.

COST SAVINGS

Consolidation can lower your costs for hardware, software and staff time. Although that's not the only reason to consolidate, it's certainly an important one. Every government is trying to do more with less these days. There's usually no funding for expansion, yet citizens want more services from government.

By simplifying your systems, you can maintain productivity and staff size. If you don't consolidate, you're looking at providing fewer services or operating with fewer people. Neither is a practical option.