Key Drivers for IT Modernization in State and Local Government
State and local agencies need to have a well-defined strategy for optimizing their data center to provide beneficial services to their citizens.
Government agencies have typically lagged slightly behind other sectors when it comes to technology adoption, but it’s clear that IT modernization has become a top concern for state and local governments. The National Association of State CIOs lists both legacy modernization and IT consolidation/optimization among state CIOs’ top 10 priorities for this year.
Agencies must contend with budget constraints, organizational complexity and staffing issues when looking to modernize IT systems. Modernization will not be a straightforward process for government organizations, however, to better serve citizens optimizing data centers is a great place to start.
Optimizing will help streamline processes and consolidate operations. Improved data centers will help offer a better digital experience to citizens and a quicker response to their needs.
Where Should State and Local Agencies Begin Their Journey to Optimize Their Data Center?
Modernizing IT can help governments reduce their total cost of ownership. It’s true that upgrades typically come with a significant upfront expenditure, but modernization and consolidation efforts introduce economies of scale that can lower unit costs within the data center.
To formulate an effective strategy to prevent issues, agencies must take into consideration the following factors:
- Strategic Financing – Budget restraints must be considered when creating a strategy for data center optimization. Teams need to know how the funding is received by their department and whether a capital expense model or an operating expense model is the right one for their agency.
- Strategic Planning – Working with a trusted third-party partner such as CDW•G can help state and local agencies formulate a well-rounded strategy. A third party can provide not only expertise but also the right partnership to overcome any challenge.
- Managed Services – Agencies must consider the upkeep required by their new data center equipment and have a plan for how they will manage and maintain it. Using third-party solutions such as Data Center as a Service, Infrastructure as a Service or Backup as a Service can alleviate the pressure on overburdened IT staff.
Taking these factors into account can help an agency can develop a strategic roadmap for integrating their legacy infrastructure with modern IT systems.
What Can Data Center Optimization Improve?
Citizens increasingly expect their governments to provide a wide array of digital services, and modernized IT infrastructure is key to delivering these experiences. For instance, CDW helped to upgrade public data center infrastructure in Florida to support a website the state created to better serve residents affected by natural disasters.
User-facing applications such as the one Florida deployed are valuable to governments and citizens, but they will not perform well over time unless they are supported by modernized back-end technology.
Simply put: To best serve citizens, governments must modernize their IT environments.
Story by
Scott Hansen, a hybrid infrastructure manager with CDW. He has been working with CDW for the past 19 years.
Chris Moran, a CDW state and local government sales manager. He has over 26 years of experience.
Pat O’Brien, the leader of CDW•G’s national field sales and services strategy. He has over 20 years of experience working with public sector IT solution sales.
