Veterans Department Reduces IT for Applications and Cost Savings
CHARLESTON S.C. (NNS) — Government officials spoke about the challenges their organizations are facing and their plans to tackle them at the Fifth Annual C5ISR Government and Industry Partnership Conference. One of the topics discussed was how the Veterans Department reduces IT costs and streamlines operations. The event was held Nov. 16, in Charleston, S.C.
Terry Halvorsen, Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer (DON CIO); Rear Adm. Robert Day, United States Coast Guard assistant commandant for C4IT and chief information officer; and Roger Baker, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assistant secretary for Information Technology (IT) described the steps their organizations are taking to deal with the challenges of finding efficiencies and responding to budget cuts. While there are differences in their organizational missions and goals, the three leaders had some similar ideas.
Rebuild the Veterans Department IT to Reduce Costs, Waiting Times to Save Costs
One year ago, Baker was faced with the task of rebuilding the entire VA IT department while working with a constrained budget and increased demands for services. His three goals were to simplify the GI bill application, reduce Veteran homelessness, and create a simplified Veterans Benefits Management System. The goal was for easy access to benefits and medical records.
He met his first goal with an updated GI bill application, developed with the Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare (SPAWAR) Systems Command, that reduced application completion time from 45 minutes to seven. This successful partnership led to another partnership with SPAWAR to update the Veterans Benefits Management System. As a result, using the updated system, veterans can now download their benefits information and medical records onto their personal computing devices.
Veterans Homelessness Registry
A veterans homelessness registry was also created, so the VA can begin to assist homeless veterans with finding homes. This crucial initiative aims to systematically identify and track veterans experiencing homelessness. Therefore, it’s also ensuring that they receive the support and services they need to transition into stable housing. Baker said the goal is to “eliminate veteran homelessness by 2015,” emphasizing the urgency of addressing this pressing issue and fostering a comprehensive network of resources, including job training, mental health support, and financial assistance, to help veterans regain their independence and dignity in society. By mobilizing communities and government agencies, the program sets a framework for sustained engagement and outreach, ultimately transforming the lives of those who have served our country.
Day is following mandates to consolidate data centers by 2015, move enterprise services to a cloud environment, and terminate one third of all underperforming projects in the next 18 months, while also dealing with budget constraints. In addition, Day expressed concerns over the data center consolidation goal. He stated that he is “trying to move services at every opportunity, but there needs to be a dot mil enclave in the data center for the DHS component.”
Full Suite of Enterprise Services with Better Price
He is most interested in finding an environment where the full suite of enterprise services can be integrated at the right price, and is currently reviewing offerings from commercial sources and the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). Day said he is hopeful that the DISA price, which is higher than the price of similar services elsewhere, will come down as more organizations express interest in the DISA offerings. Moreover, reducing the number of customized applications is one of the major challenges he is struggling with. Day added that all “new environment” applications must be commercial off=the-shelf (COTS) software with no customization.
Reducing Thick-Client Desktops for Cyber and Cost Savings on Energy
Day is also pursuing the reduction of thick-client desktops, not only as a cost savings initiative, but also because such a reduction will reduce the opportunity for cyber attacks. Also, Day thinks this work can be done on something like an Apple iPad. However, those areas that are mission-critical, such as cyber systems and processes, will continue to reside on thick-clients.
Halvorsen knows these are tough times, especially since he has to cut the Navy’s computing and cybersecurity budget by $2 billion while facing more threats. He aims to save money in business IT to support essential warfighting efforts and also to help reduce the Department’s share of the national debt. He emphasized that “savings from business IT will help maintain mission-critical IT.”
Reducing Data Centers from 150 to 50
Similar to Day, Halvorsen is working on data center consolidation with plans to reduce the number of DON data centers from 150 to 50 by the end of the Future Years Defense Program (FYDP). However, there are complications with DCC.
The 1,800 applications on the DON network need to be reduced, and the remaining ones should be moved cost-effectively. Halvorsen believes that cutting down these applications can save more money than closing data centers. Therefore, finding the best way to reduce applications is crucial for saving costs for the Department.
Veterans Department IT Cost Savings going Cloud
Halvorsen is also looking at options for moving enterprise services to the cloud, recognizing the importance of keeping pace with technological advancements. He says that we must look at all available options to see what makes the most sense, particularly in terms of efficiency and scalability.
Moreover, he emphasized that “we are not going to have a single-point solution in any area. After a government bid for contract is issued, the IT products we use have to be the best of the applicants for the least cost. For that really continues to focus on the mission,” reflecting a commitment to thorough analysis and strategic planning.
This approach entails evaluating various cloud service providers and their offerings. It also involves ensuring that each choice aligns with the overall objectives of the organization. All the while balancing the potential for innovation and the necessity of fiscal responsibility.
By focusing on adaptable solutions, Halvorsen aims to foster an environment that is both robust and responsive. Essentially to the changing needs of the enterprise.
He also reiterated Day’s comments that many commands own a lot of customized software. However, there is no financial plan that enables the removal of them all at once.
Get New Tech for Navy IT: Veterans Department Reduces IT Costs
He stated we must transition to a Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) environment if the Veterans Department really will be effective at reduced IT costs. This move allows us to backfit some legacy software. Moreover, this transition is vital for adopting new technological advancements. It also ensures our systems stay competitive in a changing market. Companies integrate COTS solutions to streamline processes. Consequently, they boost efficiency. Meanwhile, they maintain the functionality of existing legacy systems. These older applications have served us well. It’s critical to assess our current software infrastructure. Thus, we must identify necessary adaptations. Ultimately, we aim for a smooth coexistence between modern solutions and established software.
Veterans Department Reduces IT costs by the Navy Saving on Purchasing Software
Halvorsen said the DON needs to look into the ways they are purchasing software. This is emphasizing the importance of reassessing their current procurement strategies to ensure they align with contemporary technological advancements. He also suggests moving to a model where software is simply by government and not owned by the Navy. Yes, rather than purchasing individual licenses, which can often lead to unnecessary costs and inefficiencies. He elaborated further, stating, “we are looking into this possibility and at how to buy better and buy differently,” highlighting the critical need for flexibility and adaptability in a rapidly changing digital landscape. This approach not only alleviates the financial burden associated with large upfront costs but also allows for more sustainable and scalable solutions that can evolve with the organization’s needs over time.
The Veterans Department reduces IT by their plans to also cut down on printing. This move saves costs and reduces environmental impact. Halvorsen states, “We can now use multi-function devices. These devices reduce both printing and faxing.” He emphasizes that these advancements streamline our workflow. By consolidating functions, we minimize paper usage. Additionally, we boost overall productivity. Staff can focus on critical tasks instead of managing separate machines.
Reducing outdated processes like faxing plays a major role in cutting budgets. Print reduction may not seem significant at first. However, it can generate millions in savings. When applied throughout the DON, these savings add up quickly.
Despite the differences in these three organizations, their goal to achieve IT efficiencies is the same. They are looking to reduce the cost of business IT while ensuring that funds are available to support mission-critical IT.
Sources
Source: US Navy
Story Number: NNS111119-05 Release Date: 11/19/2011 6:23:00 AM
For more news from Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer, visit www.navy.mil/local/doncio/
By Jessica Pelenberg, Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer Public Affairs
