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Richard A. Spires, CIO, Department of Homeland Security
 

The formation of DHS, through combining 22 agencies under one department, created a natural need for consolidated and centrally managed IT services, systems, and hardware.  At the time, the Office of the Chief Information Officer formulated a vision to achieve the Department’s mission of “One DHS,” called “One Infrastructure,” through consolidation of our legacy data centers.
The vision of data center consolidation was to reduce the number of existing facilities to two secure, geographically diverse primary sites to minimize IT infrastructure, while enhancing the disaster recovery posture of the Department.  The two Enterprise Data Centers (EDCs)—we affectionately call them Data Center 1 (DC1) and Data Center 2 (DC2)—also establish a foundation for bolstering our information security and implementing green IT.
 

By the end of 2011, the Department successfully consolidated nine of the 43 primary legacy data center sites.  Consolidation of another 12 is planned by the end of 2012, and the completion of our major legacy data center consolidation activity to one or both of the EDCs by the end of 2014 remains on course.
 

Some examples of completed consolidations include:

• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) moved data center operations for their Mapping Information Platform (MIP) from its former hosting facility in Raleigh, N.C., to DC2 in April 2011.  The MIP is a workflow-based system and web portal that provides the latest tools and technology for digital flood map production. FEMA mapping partners create, validate, store, track, and update reliable digital flood data using the MIP workflow process.  Moving FEMA’s data center operations increased efficiencies and is producing an annual savings of $5 million.

• Customs and Border Protection (CBP) completed migration from their Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) at Tysons Corner, Va, to one of the EDCs. This enabled CBP to end its facility contract of approximately 2,200 square feet (38 racks) and consolidate with other ACE systems.  This move achieved consolidation efficiencies and annual facility cost avoidance of an estimated $700,000.

• While most consolidations result in dollar savings or cost avoidance, the consolidation of the Homeland Secure Data Network (HSDN) primary systems from Fair Lakes, VA, to DC1 in 2008, and backup systems to DC2 in 2009, resulted in significant operational benefits.  Functionality improved by establishing geographically diverse operations for data replication, continuity of service, and robust and redundant connectivity to major DHS locations.  While costs were not reduced, this migration further enhanced DHS’ command and control capability by ensuring continuity of HSDN services.  Having enterprise-level secure data capabilities at both EDCs significantly mitigates the risk of a catastrophic system outage.
 

DHS’ data center migration activities have led to  a number of business innovations in the Department, including:  1) funding efficiencies – a DHS centrally coordinated migration fund to enhance Component migration efforts; 2) procurement efficiencies – Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) bundling and more effective vendor coordination; and 3) IT infrastructure and operational efficiencies – using the consolidation effort as an opportunity to consolidate and upgrade systems and move toward establishing the DHS Private Cloud.
 

By utilizing common shared IT infrastructure, DHS only pays for and operates the systems necessary to execute and maintain its missions.  This allows underlying IT infrastructure to run at higher utilization levels and reduces the number of systems and related power consumption, without compromising our mission performance.  This “as a Service” model is so promising that DHS has committed to nine private cloud service offerings, which are either in the planning, acquisition, or sustainment phase.  These service models include Email as a Service (EaaS), SharePoint as a Service (SHPTaaS), Development and Test as a Service (DTaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), WorkPlace as a Service (WPaaS), Project Server as a Service (PSaaS), Authentication as a Service (AuthaaS), Case and Relationship Management as a Service (CRMaaS), and Business Intelligence as a Service (BIaaS).  Each service will be rolled out with a minimum Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA) rating of Moderate or High. 
 

Finally, we are working towards implementing strategies to fully utilize the EDCs capacity to include non-DHS government entities, which supports OMB’s “Shared First” initiative.  I am pleased with the data center consolidation efforts that we have achieved through 2011 and look forward to the benefits they will provide DHS and its Components in the future.