In December 2010, the Under Secretary of the Navy designated the DON CIO as the department's lead for efficiencies in the information management/information technology/cyberspace and information resources management domains, with the subsequent direction to reduce business IT costs by $2 billion. One of the primary drivers of this savings will be through data center consolidation (DCC).
As of January 2012, the department has approximately 150 data centers in operation, primarily operated by the two services. The majority of these data centers are funded and operated under multiple programs or multiple Echelon II/III/IV commands, with different hardware and software models, support models and operating procedures. To achieve efficiencies, the DON is moving forward with an enterprise approach to DCC that is focused on standardizing data formats, rationalizing applications, and converging networks or support structures. Consolidation of the DON's computing infrastructure will improve disaster recovery, physical security, cyber security and efficiencies, resulting in an estimated savings of $1.4 billion during the next five years.
Joint DON Memo - September 20, 2012
This memo provides details on how the Department of the Navy must engage in the immediate strategic transformation of information technology in business systems, applications, and processes within programs of record and functional area portfolios. It includes applications, networks, and systems classified as Mission Assurance Category II and III, and DON data centers, currently operating on any ashore network.
Joint DON Memo - May 4, 2012
This memo establishes a standard format to report metrics that will measure and validate progress in attaining Department of the Navy information technology/cyberspace cost savings objectives, which were established through the FY 2013 Program/Budget Review and other ongoing Navy and Marines Corps IT cost saving efforts.
DON Performance Plan - October 4, 2012
This plan details the Department of the Navy's continued efforts to reduce the Navy's overall data center footprint, deliver cost and environmental efficiencies and increase the overall information technology security posture while ensuring Navy and Marine Corps warfighting capability remains strong. This effort aligns directly with the Office of Management and Budget Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative and the ...
DON CIO Memo - July 22, 2011
This memo establishes a moratorium to halt all Department of the Navy investment (to include individual program of record resources) in increased data storage capacity without first determining that existing DON data center capacity is insufficient to meet the storage requirements, and determining it is not more cost effective to expand capacity in an existing DON owned Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, Navy ...
January 29, 2013
Chances are you've seen the TV ad for a used-car company that begins with a potential buyer looking for “a car.” He is suddenly facing a sea of automobiles, which he narrows down by being more specific: "A red car. With good gas mileage. With four doors." And so on.
This is a good example of what we in the IT world call "transparency." Contrary to common misconceptions, data transparency does not mean access to all ...
by Enterprise IT Communications - December 7, 2012
The Department of the Navy has made significant progress in adjusting to its smaller budget, but much work remains. The $100 million in savings achieved so far is just a start to the $2 billion cut to the DON’s IT budget, said Terry Halvorsen, the DON Chief Information Officer.
November 6, 2012
As the Data Center Consolidation (DCC) and Application Rationalization efforts move forward, a significant milestone was recently reached. The Navy DCC Task Force, formed in the first quarter of fiscal year 2012, has successfully completed 17 of 19 planned site consolidations. As part of the effort, the Navy moved more than 100 systems into Navy enterprise data centers.
September 21, 2012
The Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer and Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy/Deputy Chief Management Officer recently released the policy memo, "Achieving Measurable Efficiencies Through Data Center Consolidation, System, and Application Rationalization Guidance." This memo provides details on the steps the DON must take to achieve budget savings through application rationalization while ensuring mission ...
by Sue Shuryn and Victor Ecarma - July 30, 2012
A critical component to achieving cost savings is transparency of business information technology data, which provides needed insight into, and thus enables more effective management of, the financial and programmatic status of the enterprise. The Department of the Navy Enterprise Architecture (EA) process is essential to providing visibility of such vital information. The DON EA assessment process is cyclical and ...
by Government Accountability Office - July 26, 2012
In 2010, as a focal point for information technology management across the government, the Office of Managment and Budget's (OMB) Federal Chief Information Officer launched the Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative - an effort to consolidate the growing number of federal data centers. In July 2011, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) evaluated 24 agencies' progress on this effort and reported that most ...
June 5, 2012
At the most recent Department of the Navy Information Technology Conference in Virginia Beach, Va., Terry Halvorsen, DON Chief Information Officer, held a town hall to discuss his strategy for business IT transformation and the future of DON IT. Download the full transcript, which includes questions from the audience, here.
May 30, 2012
During the next five to 10 years, the Department of the Navy is facing significant budget constraints. To support vital warfighting capabilities that protect the safety of the nation, it is necessary to find efficiencies in other areas. As part of this effort, the DON Chief Information Office and its information technology partners, such as internal stakeholders and industry, will thoroughly review all operations from an ...
April 24, 2012
Consolidation of data centers is a complex and long-term issue that both private and public sectors are facing. This issue was the focus of the panel discussion, Data Center Consolidation from the Department of the Navy Perspective, that Mr. Terry Halvorsen, Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer, moderated at this year's Sea Air Space Convention. Comprised of data center consolidation and data storage experts ...
by Terry Halvorsen - April 20, 2012
Two years ago, Adm. Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called the national debt the greatest threat to national security. He also emphasized the importance of good fiscal stewardship and the need for Department of Defense leaders to work together to cut spending, which had doubled from 2000 to 2010.
March 22, 2012
Data center consolidation is not a new concept to the Department of the Navy. The department has been actively consolidating IT resources and has already seen significant savings as a result. ...
March 12, 2012
Both the Navy and Marine Corps are assessing the data centers in existence today and consolidating appropriate centers to achieve efficiencies and realize savings. To ensure the data center consolidation streamlines operations, reduces overall costs, and maintains the high level of security, the Navy and Marine Corps are moving forward with a thoughtful plan that will achieve significant savings through fiscal year 2017. ...
March 6, 2012
Currently, the Department of the Navy has approximately 150 data centers that were established to meet the needs of individual organizations. This has resulted in a complex and duplicative network structure. Data center consolidation will reduce server requirements and merge the hardware residing in many data centers into fewer, more modern and efficient enterprise data centers. It will also virtualize DON applications ...
February 20, 2012
The Department of the Navy must reduce its business IT costs by 25 percent over the next five years. One way the DON is doing this is through data center consolidation. But, what is a data center? A data center is a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems. ...
by Michele Buisch - January 12, 2012
To continue supporting the operational forces stationed around the world, protecting the nation and providing humanitarian assistance during these fiscally constrained times, the Department of the Navy is seeking opportunities to increase IT efficiencies while cutting business spending. A primary focus of this effort is data center consolidation, which is essential to reducing the IT budget by 25 percent during the next ...
by Lonnie Cowart, SPAWAR Public Affairs - October 12, 2011
CHARLESTON, S.C. –- SPAWAR Systems Center Atlantic unveiled a new data center that will play a key role in consolidating more than 100 Navy data centers to increase effectiveness and efficiency to reduce costs while still meeting the Navy's security and operational requirements.
July 22, 2011
The Department of the Navy Chief Information Officer signed out formal data center consolidation guidance officially establishing a moratorium on the purchase of additional data center capacity.