In June 2005, Executive Order 2005-562 directed all executive branch agencies to consolidate Information Technology (IT) operational control under the Commonwealth Office of Technology (COT), when such consolidation was deemed to be in the best interest of the Commonwealth. The General Assembly has also acknowledged the need to group IT related functions, organizational units and administrative bodies to produce greater economy, efficiency and improved administration (KRS 12.028). The COT immediately began implementing the Executive Order to closely integrate, align and consolidate agency IT infrastructure services.
IT infrastructure for Executive Branch agencies is currently being consolidated into COT. Consolidating IT across the Commonwealth will strengthen buying power. Consolidating IT will also produce advantages in negotiating IT contracts to reduce the total cost of ownership of IT resources. Consolidating infrastructure components and staff will promote streamlined processes and services while reducing IT management and resource costs.
IT infrastructure components should be viewed as commodities or utility-based resources that are critical to the delivery of core business functions. Given this perspective, COT is implementing a similar utility-based IT infrastructure service model. The Commonwealth expects to experience substantial cost savings, as have other states that are following the path to IT consolidation.
The Commonwealth Office of Technology (COT) has assumed responsibility for management and support services for Information Technology (IT) Infrastructure for all Executive Branch Agencies. However, each individual agency will retain the Application Software Development functions. In some cases, this division of responsibilities has created questions about what is in-scope vs. out-of-scope for IT infrastructure.
“Infrastructure” includes all hardware and related software components. “Infrastructure” also includes management and support services associated with an entity attached to the Commonwealth’s data or telephony network down to the individual desktop.
COT’s organizational structure aligns each support branch with a particular infrastructure category in order to add organizational clarity to support functions. The organizational names and related infrastructure definition are discussed below.
Definitions
Merriam-Webster defines infrastructure as “the underlying foundation or basic framework (as of a system or organization).” COT will use the following series of guidelines in determining what is, and is not, infrastructure:
- Computer hardware, digital devices, software or related support services
- Devices connecting to the Commonwealth network (with an IP address)
- Devices covered by a COT “rated service”
- Items/Services for which COT adds value by assuming control
- Communications, Technical Services, Client Services or IT Operations items, as described below
| Communications: |
Data traffic (all speeds), voice traffic, voice services (long-distance, calling cards, directory assistance, equipment maintenance), voice-mail, video services, firewalls, Internet address resolution, Internet content security management, Messaging (Mailboxes, Wireless, Desktop FAX), Virtual Private Networking (VPN), Field Services |
| Technical Services: |
Servers (all Commonwealth-standard operating system platforms) and network storage (SAN, NAS, RDS), IBM Mainframe services (DASD, Batch/TSO, Tape, Online transaction services including CICS, IMS and NEON), Data Backups, Disaster Recovery Services |
| Client Services: |
Service Desk Support functions, Desktops, Laptops, Customer Service Level Management, Procurement Services, Asset & Configuration Management Services |
| IT Operations: |
Production Support, IT Print Services, Change Management |
Additional Information
- COT will review all requests for IT hardware, software or services
- COT will assume payment of invoices only for those goods/services covered by an established COT rate (or passed-thru to the agency)
- COT will assume responsibility for procurement activities and replacement of equipment covered by COT rated services (enterprise class system agreements are covered under individual MOAs).
- COT will develop the IT solutions for business cases affecting “infrastructure.” Agencies requests for goods/services should only define the business case.
- COT does not assume responsibility for the cost of acquiring new equipment and software associated with newly introduced business applications or services (i.e. if the Department of Revenue introduces a new online tax payment system, the agency bears the cost for the initial purchase of any hardware, software or services required to implement the new system).