StateNets Update
February 9, 2005
Chip Byers, Director, Operations
Dave Byland, Director, Adm. Svcs.
www.more.net | University of Missouri
Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Technology / Networks / Services
Chip Byers
• Two Analogies seem to fit best:
– SNL “Frightened Family”
– Bill Murray’s “Groundhog Day”
www.more.net | University of Missouri
Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Technology / Networks / Services
Chip Byers
• What keeps you up at night?
- What will the next MOREnet look like?
- State IT consolidation (two worst
nightmares: 1.) the state takes over the
Research and Education network 2.) the
state gives us the agency network to run
- Budget cuts
- Any outage (and we run on leased lines…)
www.more.net | University of Missouri
Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Technology / Networks / Services
Chip Byers
• What keeps me up at night:
- The willful dismantling of everything
we’ve worked 14 years to build:
Ubiquitous access; postalized
pricing; competent support no
matter how far back in the hollow
you live – level playing field
www.more.net | University of Missouri
Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Technology / Networks / Services
Chip Byers
• What keeps me up at night:
- Legislation and litigation:
-
CALEA
Email and IM as public records
What’s next? Video conference?
Acacia, SCO, et al
www.more.net | University of Missouri
Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Technology / Networks / Services
Chip Byers
• What keeps me up at night:
- Security:
- Relentless new threats
- Ill-prepared network
- Tyranny of the “or”
www.more.net | University of Missouri
Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Technology / Networks / Services
Chip Byers
• What keeps me up at night:
- New services:
-
Remote Vulnerability Assessments
Good Net Neighbor
“Greylisting” other spam, virus filtering
Layered security
Internet Content Filtering
www.more.net | University of Missouri
Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Technology / Networks / Services
Chip Byers
• What keeps me up at night:
- Isn’t that enough? I’m barely
sleeping as it is…
www.more.net | University of Missouri
Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Legislative “Events” – Dave Byland
• New Governor, political party control of
both House and Senate, an unbalanced
budget recommendation and insufficient
revenue
• State CIO and Director of IT for Office of
Administration merged, headed by a
financial administrator – long time chief of
staff to new governor, and strong
supporter of MOREnet.
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Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Legislative (continued)
• Governor’s budget recommendations
isolated funds and headcount in
agency budgets to be centrally
controlled by state CIO for
“Consolidated IT”.
• Governor’s stated platform specified
full funding for schools, libraries and
higher education “institutions”.
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Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Legislative (continued)
• Budget recommendations followed
platform, but;
• MOREnet received a $2.9M reduction in
appropriation.
• State CIO was unaware of this minor
point.
• With prior appropriation reductions,
extensive cost reduction efforts, and lack
of e-rate reimbursements this year – we
have a bit of a problem!
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Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Legislative (continued)
• Action plan to seek restoration:
– Sponsor support
– Customer support and influence
– State CIO support and influence
– Carrying of rabbit’s feet, use of Voodoo
dolls and extensive appeals to your
preferred deity are all being deployed.
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Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Legislative (continued)
• If funding is not restored:
– Pass on shortfall to customers (the folks
the Governor “protected”)
– Reduce expenses (can’t cover without
degrading the network)
– Eliminate / refocus services
– Use reserves (not enough there)
www.more.net | University of Missouri
Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Legislative (continued)
• “New” Missouri government and
legislature seem to be asking the
same questions of all:
– What’s the impact of what you do for
your customers?
– Can you measure it?
– How efficiently / effectively do you
manage money?
www.more.net | University of Missouri
Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Legislative (final points)
• Action plan developed several
months ago includes:
– Extensive customer communication
– Extensive use of customer association
lobbyist efforts
– Support from Sponsors
– Constant communication with select
House / Senate members and staffers
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Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Result?
• Call after July 1, 2005. If we answer
the phone, then we’re still around!
www.more.net | University of Missouri
Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Marketing Efforts
• Identified through customer surveys that
many did not know all services available
to them.
• Identified why our “historic” methods of
customer communication were not getting
the messages across.
• Learned we spoke “MOREnet-ese”, rather
than in the language of our customers and
legislators.
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Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Marketing (continued)
• Addressed problems by:
– Small “strike force team” to recommend
immediate and longer term solutions.
– Granting short-term authority to a couple of
folks to implement immediate changes in
public documents, conference / meeting
appearances, and in how we personally”
deliver our messages.
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Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Marketing Results (so far)
• New logo and emphasis.
• Revised brochures and service
“slicks” focused around a central
“customer” theme.
• Interpersonal skill training for staff
working our conferences / attending
customer meetings – “How to get
customers to talk to us”.
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Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Marketing Results (continued)
• Coordinated series of events,
meetings, and opportunities to be
seen & heard, covering the entire
state, all customer groups, and
several key legislator districts (an
obvious tie-in for the next few
months).
www.more.net | University of Missouri
Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Marketing Results (final note)
• Early sponsor and customer response
has been very positive.
• Participating in more public events is
being noticed and appreciated by
customer groups.
• We’re receiving more input about a
number of things (amazing, huh?).
www.more.net | University of Missouri
Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Final Thoughts
• Lots of hard work, stress and Rolaids
ahead.
• This environment is not likely to
change in the next several years.
• Chinese wish is coming true – “May
you live in interesting times.”
www.more.net | University of Missouri
Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri
Questions?
• Thanks for listening.
www.more.net | University of Missouri
Copyright ©2005 MOREnet and The Curators of the University of Missouri