annual-report-2014

Information
Technology
and Business
Information
Linda Socha,
DoIT Manager for NHDOC
Ronald Cormier,
DOC Business System Analyst
I
nformation technology
at the New Hampshire
Department of Corrections
is a joint effort of the
Department of Information
Technology (DoIT) and the
DOC Business Information
Unit (BIU). Together these
units assist DOC operations
and management with
all aspects of information
technology. This collaboration
provides a smooth
transition from the business
side with project management,
application support,
data analysis, and prioritization
of projects through
the technical side with network
support, server operations,
desktop support, and
application development.
Improving communications
and increasing efficiency
and security are always the
primary goals.
DOC is entering the final
stage of the infrastructure
upgrades for the Voice/
Data network. This has
been a project that has
spanned many years and
has been extremely effective
at increasing security,
providing faster connections,
and decreasing outages.
Efforts continue to
improve the DOC network
architecture, which encompasses
the rebuilding of the
DOC servers, upgrades to
critical network hardware,
and replacement of staff
computers.
DOC focused on staff
equipment during the
last year and was able to
upgrade almost all staff
machines to required hardware
levels and implement
Windows 7 in all but a few
locations. Along with this
upgrade was the provision
of laptops with remote access
for 90 percent of the
Parole/Probation Officers.
This hardware change
allows staff to connect and
work while at court, during
their rounds, and at other
locations where they were
previously unable to access
resources.
In addition to all of the
other benefits that upgraded
equipment provides,
the Department estimates
that the integrated energy
efficiency options will save
the Department an average
of $12,500 in annual energy
costs.
Desktop Services received
and resolved more
than 3,700 DOC Help
Desk requests. Help Desk
requests include everything
from installing new hardware
or resolving hardware
problems, to assisting with
user access to the network
and to systems along with
support during and after
system upgrades and/or
outages.
The Application Development
Group supports DOC
management and operations
by providing in-house
development of applications,
databases, research
and statistical reports,
The integrated energy efficiency
options may save the Department
an average of $12,500 in annual
energy costs.
compliance with federal
reporting, and third party
right-to-know requests. The
Application Development
Group received over 144
project requests; by the end
of SFY 2014, 115 of these
requests were completed,
13 were in active status,
and the remainder were
pending assignment or
withdrawn. More than half
of these projects involved
data exports and additional
reports to the Department
and to outside agencies,
but there were several systems
developed as well.
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New Hampshire Department of Corrections