The NSITS project will allow government entities and agencies to utilize shared-use facilities. Today, many individual government computer facilities and systems are only able to provide basic backup and systems-recovery technology, leaving them and the notable amount of information contained within these systems vulnerable or unavailable in a disaster.
Four agencies are currently involved with the project -- the state of Nevada, Clark County, City of Las Vegas, and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Ultimately, other public-sector entities within the state will be invited to participate in the state-of-the-art project.
"This is a great example of how by working closely together, various government agencies at the state and local level can provide the citizens of Nevada improved service and security, while at the same time saving taxpayer dollars," said Guinn. "As we learned from the Katrina disaster, computer systems caught in the middle of such a catastrophe are prone to failure. A system that allows government agencies to share critical information will go a long way to assuring that information is not lost."
Nevada Chief Information Officer Terry Savage said, "Shared-use facilities hold the potential to improve the security of data by eliminating unneeded transmission links and standardizing security formats between the partners. This will result in better protection of citizen and taxpayer information."
Clark County Chief Information Officer Rod Massey agreed: "Citizens gain not only better protection of governmental systems and information, but also greater value and more efficient use of tax dollars."
"The shared-use approach has the potential of providing economies in systems procurement, efficiencies in operations and scalability (easy expandability) for all participants," said Joe Marcella, IT director for the City of Las Vegas. "From another viewpoint, this will maximize the information resource investment and reduce overlapping technology assets."
Metro Deputy Chief Dennis Cobb added, "The need to collaborate is created by our rapidly expanding state and by our advancing need for computer security and computers for emergency functions. Currently, these functions are handled by the individual entities, but increasing demand and tighter requirements of Homeland Security officials are pushing IT departments into partnerships."
A feasibility study examining implementation alternatives will soon be commissioned, the results of which are expected by September 2006. Following the findings of the study, NSITS partners will continue planning and budgeting to bring the project to fruition.
