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Federal big data initiatives make data management paramount concern

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Effective data management will be a critical concern as the United States federal government ramps up its exploration of big data. While information-driven initiatives have the potential to transform a variety of civil and infrastructure projects, as well as contribute to a meaningful cybersecurity plan, a lack of data oversight could make these projects ineffective and put people at risk. 

Federal agencies have already put some big data initiatives in motion, while other industry analysts tout the potential benefits of information analysis. Recent research found that organizations including the Department of Homeland Security and the Government Accountability Office think that big data tools can help them combat cyberthreats on a country-wide scale, according to InformationWeek. Efforts to combat climate change, establish "smart" utilities and improve national healthcare can also capitalize on the insights big data provides.

However, data management, already a thorn in the side of many federal agencies, will become more difficult as data storage demands skyrocket. The Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative, a project to close 40 percent of federal data centers – saving $5 billion by 2015 in the process – may be losing steam amid cost concerns and facilities closures that don't align with best practices, according to FCW. Out of the more than 7,000 government data centers, only 640 have been shut down. Although 470 are slated to shut down by September 2014, 2,400 would have to close within the next year and a half to reach the stated goal of 40 percent.

The government's struggles are a reminder that data management cannot take a backseat to cost or facilities considerations.

Disaster recovery services, cybersecurity critical to protecting electric grid from attacks

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Over the past few years, the utilities industry has made a concentrated effort to make key infrastructure "smarter." The integration of data-capturing devices and automated, software-based management systems has the potential to create smart electric grids that can more effectively use and distribute power, reducing energy costs and environmental impact in the process.

However, turning power grids into connected devices has potentially harrowing implications – a concentrated cyberattack could cause lengthy and widespread outages, not only withholding electricity from businesses and residences, but disrupting communications, healthcare systems and the economy. According to many cybersecurity researchers, the likelihood of a potential problem occurring is less of an "if" and more of a "when." 

Ramping up disaster recovery services and cybersecurity protocols is key to shielding the smart electric grid from a devastating attack. While the federal government tries to increase the efficacy and stringency of its own security measures, it's important that utility companies – from national generators to local distributors – build up their own prevention and backup systems, according to a recent white paper by the three co-chairs of the Bipartisan Policy Center's Electric Grid Cybersecurity Initiative. This effort will require a hybrid system that responds to both physical and cybersecurity threats. 

"Managing cybersecurity risks on the electric grid raises challenges unlike those in more traditional business IT networks and systems," the report stated. "[I]t will be necessary to resolve differences that remain between the frameworks that govern cyber attack response and traditional disaster response."

Disaster recovery efforts need to include backup digital systems that rival physical ones. Electric grids require faultless failover technology that can depend on a secondary backup network if the primary one is taken offline for any reason. As the Baker Institute pointed out in a recent Forbes article, the measure of a disaster recovery system's effectiveness is based on whether the grid can be restarted following a major breach, disruption or cyberattack. Without a system that can effectively monitor, prevent and immediately respond to such threats, the smart electric grid could be putting many key infrastructure systems in danger.

Curing data management issues in the healthcare sector

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Data management in the healthcare industry is reaching a tipping point. According to CDW Healthcare, the medical sector is gearing up to massive data growth – the 500 petabytes of data in 2013 are set to rise to 25,000 PBs by 2020. By 2015, the average hospital could be producing around 665 terabytes of data.

It's not just the amount of data that's the issue, but the types of information organizations collect. About 80 percent of data is unstructured, with imaging, scans and video requiring huge swaths of server space. Also, many healthcare providers are storing redundant information – the average hospital has 800,000 total records, but as many as 96,000 are duplicates. They are costly to store, making filing systems and data management efforts more complex without delivering additional security.

While big data offers potential benefits in patient care, research and treatment, the healthcare sector is flailing. In part, it's due to a relatively unique set of circumstances. The healthcare sector is traditionally fairly tech-averse – that acres of file cabinets containing patient records in manila folders still persist is a testament to how difficult it is to go digital. Initiatives such as electronic health records and healthcare information exchanges that increase the value of data have to contend with a slew of compliance, privacy and confidentiality issues.

Data management services can help healthcare organizations wield their vast information reserves in a cost-effective and secure way. Modern information technology infrastructure and business intelligence tools are critical to the effective utilization and protection of game-changing data-driven strategies, wrote Forbes contributor John Foley. Not only are massive file systems difficult to back up in a comprehensive way, many medical providers don't have any idea how long it would take to make files available following an unplanned incident. A data management services provider can help the organization establish a customized storage and backup system that prioritizes continuity and compliance. With people's lives potentially hanging in the balance, it's vital that healthcare providers alleviate big data headaches.

ISG Technology Named as HITREC Preferred Partner

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Salina, KS; April 14, 2011:  ISG Technology announced today that the company has been selected as one of the Kansas and Missouri HITREC preferred partners, as selected by Associated Purchasing Services (APS).  ISG was named as a provider of Technology and Consulting Services.

The HITECH Act, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), provides funding for eligible hospitals and physician clinics to purchase technology that will allow them to move to Electronic Health Records (EHR).

EHR provides electronic access to a patient’s medical records, giving doctors the instant access they need to provide critical care, says John Gunn, President and CEO of ISG Technology.  We see an opportunity with EHR to improve the quality of care given by healthcare providers as well as reduce costs and improve efficiency.  ISG is proud to be a part of this exciting change.

In order to implement the HITECH Act, each state has created a Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (HITREC).  These HITRECS act as an outreach to help eligible providers achieve and attest to meaningful use of their EHR systems. The HITRECs in Kansas and Missouri contracted with Associated Purchasing Services (APS) to vet vendors and service providers.

APS brings together the purchasing power of all its Participants, establishing contracts with vendors such as ISG who provide exceptional service, pricing and terms, Linda Gerber, Contracting Division Manager, said, For our Participants, it eliminates the labor involved with negotiating and managing individual contracts and helps to expedite and simplify the HIT purchasing phase.

APS selected preferred partners based on a number of different criteria, giving healthcare providers confidence in selecting their technology partner.  APS leverages resources to provide technology and services that would otherwise be unattainable for stand-alone healthcare organizations.

ISG TECHNOLOGY, INC., is a leading technology solutions provider specializing in business solutions for all areas of communication and technology, including data and voice network integration, security, storage, virtualization and unified communications solutions.  ISG has a keen understanding of the unique business and technology challenges facing healthcare clients.  Headquartered in Salina, Kansas, the company has over 27 years experience serving businesses in the Midwest and operates nine locations throughout Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.  For more information about ISG visit www.isgtech.com or call (785) 823-1555.