Phase 4 of IT Modernization brought in many new and existing challenges for our teams to tackle, and to demonstrate our true capabilities to deliver innovative solutions for our customers.
One example is with the Idaho State Liquor Division (ISLD). Their agency vision states: The vision of the Idaho State Liquor Division is to be the most respected and highest performing purveyor of distilled spirits in the U.S.A. That sets a high bar for the agency, and for ITS to ensure that technical capability exists, and is maintained to maximize throughput, reliability, and capability of the distribution network.
Even prior to official ITS support beginning June 10th, ITS had been preparing to take on a significant network and capability upgrades for the agency. Jon Spence, a long- time ISLD employee, and now an ITS Security Engineer, has been a key resource involved with this agency initiative. It involves upgrading all 70 store locations statewide with standard network and security solutions, aimed at bringing each up to the latest technology standards.
Project highlights and benefits:
- Several hundred hours of planning, design, procurement, and configuration.
- Hardware investment just over $200,000.
- Initial savings estimated to save ISLD $120,000/year in circuit costs as a result of replacing old network technology with modern connectivity-capable devices. This is a two-year return on investment.
- This initiative is a multi-team effort:
- Firewall: Jon Spence and Nathen Snodgrass – Firewall, and Cradlepoint hardware configuration, testing and support
- Network: Ed Teets, Anthony Banta – Network configuration, testing and support
- Deployment: Ed Teets, Jonathan Orchard, and Leandro Diaz, along with additional support from the Onsite team – Deploy, install, test and commission the solution statewide
- The solution will deliver a common system interface allowing ITS teams to provide statewide support remotely.
- The new platform is designed to be easily moved from one physical location to another without requiring new circuit installations cellular or satellite technology. This allows stores to move with short notice, and with much less effort and resources. Cost-savings from this feature alone will exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years.
- When a new store is brought online, this new connectivity allows for minimal effort and short lead-time to implement, ensuring new stores are up and operational as quickly as possible.
- The solution significantly increases security by providing a highly secure, end-to-end network connection, and traffic inspection capability.
