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"When we enhance these processes with AGR, we enhance the services provided to the people." |
PROCERGS serves as true pioneer in sharing proprietary software
According to Pier Roberto Riboni, general operation coordinator for PROCERGS, the public agency enjoys a privileged position in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, as well as throughout much of Brazil, when it comes to providing IT services. It is considered a pioneer in the use of free software, and is committed to exploring new and modern technologies. One such example was the agency's betting on Linux early on, when most other contemporaries shied away. "We believed in the expansion of Open Source and free solutions," says Riboni, "and we realized that the operating management of these resources would be vital, so we invested in the creation of AGR." This innovative service and its groundbreaking network management resources today have been implemented in five state agencies throughout Rio Grande do Sul, including the office of the Secretary of Environment and the State General Prosecutor Office.
The challenge was to help state companies excel without expending the cost
The main commitment for PROCERGS was to provide direct and value-driven assistance to the many public agencies, citizens and companies that use its products and services every day. "With AGR," states Riboni, "we intend to provide all public-owned companies with the conditions to manage their assets without the need to invest in process development, the creation of related operating infrastructure, or educating their staff. This is our job." According to Riboni, the change in today's technology focus, the spread of mobile computing, the proliferation of the Internet, the rise of the virtual office and other ever-evolving advancements have all helped raise the management issue. "We know the companies' difficulties," asserts Riboni, "and we believe AGR is an excellent option to solve them. We offer management services through 'packs' that vary according to the clients' needs and which fit in their IT budgets."
Comprehensive network monitoring technology helps Rio Grande do Sul run smoothly and securely
So as to ensure the control and tracking of all its clients' networks, PROCERGS uses a NOC (Network Operating Center) that works 24 hours x 7 days/week x 365 days/year. It is equipped with 30 workstations, three monitoring screens (Linux technology), tools for experience logging, a trouble ticket system, a billboard application integrated with the helpdesk and various support areas. The result is not only an extremely secure, dependable and highly monitored network management infrastructure, but the positive effect of such watchful diligence ripples out to the public as well. "We provide services mainly to the public agencies of Rio Grande do Sul," explains Claudio Crosseti Dutra, COO of PROCERGS. "When we enhance these processes with AGR, we enhance the services provided to the people."
CA implements management solutions that enable better access to key information
PROCERGS president, Marcos Mazoni, points to a partnership with CA as a driving force in ensuring the success of the launch of AGR. The state-run agency turned to Unicenter, CA's Project and Portfolio Management Solution. Among the services now offered as part of the AGR basic pack — which also mirror CA Unicenter's management modules — are event management, resource monitoring, inventory, software distribution, remote control and antivirus. Says Riboni: "With the help of Unicenter, we can offer central though independent access and visualization, and we are confident that each client has restricted and secure access to its own information only." This was obviously a critical factor if state agencies were to share a technology space. In addition, adds Riboni, Unicenter automates various tasks that used to demand a lot of time and money. Using Unicenter, AGR created a special access portal and "through this portal," demonstrates Riboni, "clients can keep track of their network status, in addition to making requirements, such as the upgrade of a program."
Technology is deployed to decrease costs and ensure greater business continuity
If you ask COO Claudio Crosseti Dutra, the most attractive benefit to AGR has been, no doubt, cost reduction. With the adoption of AGR, states Dutra, PROCERGS clients can significantly reduce cost in several important ways:
- Assurance of business continuity
- Increased communication
- Decreased disruption and downtime
- Rollback of required staff
- Simplified software deployment
- Expedited hardware disinfection
Ultimately, every day Dutra sees his clients experience lower TCO — Total Cost of Ownership — in their technology investments. He credits these tangible savings to the network management and administration services he can now offer them through AGR.
Content posted on: 16 July 2007
