UniversalUniversal TelecommunicationsTelecommunications
NetworkNetwork
NRCS MeetingSeptember 2002
Topics For DiscussionTopics For Discussion
UTN Overview
Survey Findings
Focus Groups
Next Steps
UTN OverviewUTN Overview
The goal of the UTN is to provide USDA agencies and offices the fundamental shared corporate telecommunications capability necessary to support USDA missions and the business transformation process.
Vision for UTNVision for UTN
Robust telecommunications network
Scalable, reliable, secure, cost effective
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Enables USDA agencies to meet Departmental missions and goals for serving their customers
“UTN is the fundamental telecommunications enterprise infrastructure needed for USDA program delivery.”
Development and operation of a shared corporate telecommunications network
Consistent with Department’s enterprise architecture
Acquire world-class partners necessary to design, implement and operate network throughout USDA program life-cycle
UTN’s Targeted ObjectivesUTN’s Targeted Objectives
Initiate continuous monitoring and proactive network support service
Ensure business requirements drive telecommunications service
Provide best value, quality telecomm service in support of strategic goals
Provide secure enterprise network infrastructure
Introduce network management tools
Establish performance metrics to define secure, reliable, robust network
Establish SLA framework
UTN will provide common functionality UTN will provide common functionality and interoperability for USDAand interoperability for USDA
Reliability Robustness Customer Service Technology Infusion
Stability Scalability Best Value Security
UTN will ensure the following attributes:
Top-Level Yearly USDA Top-Level Yearly USDA Telecommunications Expenditures*Telecommunications Expenditures*
FY02 FY03 FY04
Total $93,793,085 $91,206,323 $95,325,543
**As Reported by the Agencies in the UTN Survey As Reported by the Agencies in the UTN Survey
(Note: Totals do not include cost data for: FAS, FSIS, FS, (Note: Totals do not include cost data for: FAS, FSIS, FS, FNS, DA, OO, GIPSA, ARS, OCR, OES, and OIG)FNS, DA, OO, GIPSA, ARS, OCR, OES, and OIG)
The The cost categoriescost categories include: data circuits, voice circuits, voice communications, include: data circuits, voice circuits, voice communications, international circuits, remote access, internet service provisioning, wireless, international circuits, remote access, internet service provisioning, wireless, security, managed service agreements, network support, personnel, hardware, security, managed service agreements, network support, personnel, hardware, and software.and software.
Baseline “As-Is”
Business and Technology Functions
UTN Solution
Synthesis
Business Requirements
Current Telecom
Transforming Business and Technology Transforming Business and Technology Functions to UTN Design AttributesFunctions to UTN Design Attributes
Business Requirements Drive UTN SolutionBusiness Requirements Drive UTN Solution
Goal of UTN Survey Ensure a clear understanding of the telecommunications requirements
of USDA Agencies and Offices in order to build the UTN to fit their needs
Methodology Requirements process began with collection and analysis of relevant
business-related and telecommunications data – focusing on Agency and Office responses to two web-based surveys
Examination of applicable industry standards and best practices, and information from existing OCIO documents also used
Results Functional requirements will provide the basis for:
Identifying major limitations of current baseline architecture Evaluating UTN alternative architectures and evolution strategies Developing network performance specifications
Ranking of High Priority Service Issues
Safeguarding Information26%
Improve Customer Service27%Outsourcing Services?
2%
Sharing Resources10%
Performance Measures11%
Centralized Netw ork11%
Electronic Commerce13%
Business Requirements/Survey FindingsBusiness Requirements/Survey Findings
Business, Telecom, and Data Networking Requirements Network stability identified as a major need
Need for uninterrupted and fast accesso To the public Internet and designated systems from the public Interneto To the USDA intranet and designated systems from the USDA intraneto Among USDA agencies
Available bandwidth and speed identified as limitations to the current network
Security
VPNs were a requirement stated by the majority of respondents
Two primary protection needs for secure communications were encryption and firewalls
Majority of data to be protected identified as financial data, privacy data, and other information defined as sensitive
Business Requirements/Business Requirements/ Survey FindingsSurvey Findings
Intranet-related service areas identified as either in use or planned by the Agencies Voice over IP (VOIP) Video (including teleconferencing) Wireless communications
Remote access identified as a fundamental requirement
Effective use of network services requires: Network systems monitoring, management, and reporting Help desk/call center Security Education and training
Need for effective communication of network-related outages, events, etc.
Services
Business Requirements/ Survey FindingsBusiness Requirements/ Survey Findings
Managed Services
Need for monitoring network, equipment, and circuits on a 24x7x365 basis
Need for proactively monitoring network indicators for potential emerging network incidents
Need for a controlled trouble resolution process including opening, managing, and closing trouble tickets
Network Monitoring, Management, Modeling, and Reporting
Identified subset of Agencies using SNMP-based monitoring and
management tools such as HP OpenView, CiscoWorks, MRTG, and the
network modeling tool OpNet.
Need identified for development of network monitoring guidelines and
sample configuration profiles for each of the major systems used
Focus GroupsFocus Groups
Top Priority Focus Groups VPN Web Server Architecture Capacity and Performance Planning Security Wireless
Purpose of Focus Groups Refine requirements from survey Communicate and share agency planning efforts Create a forum where synergies can be identified and developed
among common initiatives Provide an understanding of how UTN will meet the agency needs
Next Steps
Complete survey analysis and requirements definition Begin focus groups Begin planning pilots Begin development of UTN design concepts