Tag Archives: consolidation

NetCentrics CIO, Jim DeBardi, recently published an article in FCW, offering four recommendations for federal agencies looking to modernize via consolidation. Between scope, prioritization, staffing/leadership, process, and data-integrity demands, there are a number of challenges agencies must consider and overcome in order to successfully consolidate. In his article, Jim offers four steps that agency leaders should consider before starting down the consolidation path.

NetCentrics CEO, Cyndi Barreda, recently published an article in Federal Times titled, “How to take the ‘fear factor’ out of federal IT consolidations,” explaining that consolidation is about technology and cost savings, but a truly successful consolidation is also about people, cultural change, customer service, and maintaining the mission.

In part I of this series, we discussed some of the common consolidation challenges facing the Federal Government. In part II, we’ll explore five recommendations to ensure organizations are well-prepared for consolidation.

Doing more with less – that’s been a common theme in the Government IT space, even more so in the last decade. Budget growth has slowed dramatically while information technology capabilities and user demands skyrocket. Finding ways to create efficiencies and provide new solutions for customers with flat budgets is paramount. Data Center rationalization, transformation, and consolidation offers perhaps the best opportunity to provide the same or better service with a smaller footprint and greater efficiency. Government agencies think so too: in August 2016, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) finalized a new data center consolidation directive seeking 25% cost reductions through 2018. The directive encourages data center consolidation and notes that any recommended new data center construction budgets won’t be approved without prior consent of OMB. While data center consolidation and rationalization promise great benefits, these consolidations present significant challenges.

From planning and communication to expectation management and perception awareness, NetCentrics President Cyndi Barreda lays out seven recommendations that have helped her lead multiple consolidations over her more than 20 years in federal IT consolidation. With so much going on during a consolidation, it can be easy for customer service to suffer. Cyndi believes that for […]