1-page Solution Brief - Posted 5/1/2008

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State of California Department of Technology Services

State Agency Upgrades Operating System to Support Consolidation and Virtualization

"We’re using Windows Server 2008 because it’s the platform of choice for any virtualization initiative. It’s certainly living up to our expectations."
–Russ Leong, Systems Software Specialist, State of California Department of Technology Services

Business Needs

The State of California relies on technology to run all facets of government. Approximately 500 agencies and departments depend on the state’s Department of Technology Services (DTS) to provide hosted technology services from its large data center, which includes many hundreds of terabytes of information.

DTS wanted to encourage a shared services model in order to provide a higher level of service to customer agencies and decrease overall costs. “We sought to ensure that we had the capacity to support our consolidation and virtualization efforts while promoting heightened security and efficient management,” says Russ Leong, Systems Software Specialist, State of California DTS.

Solution

In late 2007, DTS decided to upgrade its data center and deploy six server computers—three physical and three virtual—running the Windows Server® 2008 Enterprise operating system. The server computers act as domain controllers in a forest to host services for DTS customers.  Although DTS used manual processes for its deployment, it plans to take advantage of automated tools, such as Windows® Deployment Services, in the future.

Benefits

DTS now can provide its customer agencies with the leading-edge tools that they need to run the government. Benefits of using Windows Server 2008 include:

• Increased cost savings through server consolidation and virtualization; DTS has been able to reduce the number of physical servers and domain controllers by more than half.
• Enhanced security, with the ability to apply security policies at the organizational unit level.
• Reduced power consumption, which supports DTS environmental initiatives.
• Improved system management, with built-in efficiencies for greater control.
• Better base for future statewide capabilities, including instant messaging and collaboration.

Windows Server 2008
Windows Server 2008, with built-in web and virtualization technologies, enables you to increase the reliability and flexibility of your server infrastructure. New virtualization tools, web resources, and security enhancements help you save time, reduce costs, and provide a platform for a dynamic and optimized datacenter. Powerful new tools like IIS 7.0, Server Manager, and Windows PowerShell™, allow you to have more control over your servers and streamline web, configuration, and management tasks.  Advanced security and reliability enhancements like Network Access Protection and the Read-Only Domain Controller option for Active Directory® Domain Services harden the operating system and protect your server environment to ensure you have a solid foundation on which to build your business.

For more information, go to:
www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008