During the dawn of the computer age in the '80s, there were few coders who knew anything about data security, website design, social media and never-ending software solutions. It made sense to outsource this government infrastructure. But times have changed. Most colleges now offer a wide variety of IT degrees.
Vision Technologies, which handles IT in Northampton County, took over a year to complete the simple task of making meeting videos available on Youtube. The county's computers often inexplicably shut down, and the internet speed is painfully slow. This nonlocal firm has hardly distinguished itself . And to be frank, the biggest data security threat to a county government is not some Russian hacker, but the actual service provider.
On the other hand, it still makes sense to have a relation with an outfit that has its finger on the pulse of the latest advances in digital technology.
That's why I like the approach taken in Lehigh County. Its total budget for Information Technology this year is $4,443,916. Most of the work is done in-house by county employees, but this budget also includes a $450,000 payment to Computer Aid for IT management. It's a hybrid solution in which county employees manage sensitive data with a manager available for troubleshooting and developing trends. Best of all, it's nearly $500,000 cheaper than what NorCo pays.
Although Northampton County officials are spending most of their time dealing with Covid-a9 at this moment, it should consider an in-house department when it prepares next year's budget.
So who is the county contact that the company interacts with? Is it at least someone who is versed in technical science?
ReplyDeleteWhat do you know about I.T.?
ReplyDeleteThe county has several IT savvy employees. The IT techs who works on the county's tech infrastructure are NOT county employees, and that bothers me. Moreover, the job being done by this private company who takes up a half floor of the three-story courthouse has gone downhill. We now have a Council member, Tom Giovanni, who was in the IT industry. He should be asked to explore bringing things in-house. I may be completely wrong. It could be things are just fine. I am suggesting that there are possible savings and better service than what I've seen.
ReplyDelete"What do you know about I.T.?"
ReplyDeleteI know next to nothing about IT, but do know it has gone downhill at the courthouse and LC pays $1/2 million less.
The politicos in charge of hiring IT companies are just hiring companies that are separated by the LLC yet is a common owner or owners that hold the contract. The service is lacking and sometimes by designs to be unaccountable to the public.
ReplyDeleteThe contract is a steaming pile of smoldering money. But the county doesn't do anything well. What makes anyone think they can manage IT? Bringing the work inside will be more costly in the end. We've all seen this movie before, and we know how it ends - every single time.
ReplyDeletetwo words for Bernie: Stay Home...you are not relevant to critical services needed
ReplyDeleteStop picking on Bernie!
ReplyDeleteI can see the nepotism line already just like in the Bethlehem School district, a former secretary is the technology director, no college degree, technology experience, poor people skills and always playing the blame game just like trump, not my fault...
ReplyDeleteThere is a Northampton County department that is separated from the County's IT department and has their own County people overseeing all of the IT and communications equipment. That would be Northampton County Emergency Management Services. By design, and at no time, do the systems go down. The County employees oversee the daily operations and maintenance of those systems. Yes, they also have contracts with outside vendors, but the ultimate responsibility of those systems fall upon those County workers. And it works. Could it work in Easton? Sure it could. It just takes resolve. Additionally, it surprises me, that the County's IT department, which is a private entity, dictates the IT policy for the County, instead of the other way around. Does anyone else see a problem with this?
ReplyDelete"I can see the nepotism line already just like in the Bethlehem School district, a former secretary is the technology director, no college degree, technology experience, poor people skills and always playing the blame game just like trump, not my fault..."
ReplyDeleteThis has nothing to do with Trump or Bethlehem's School District. This has everything to do with an IT department that has been subpar and costs us $500k more than it does in LC. . In fact, the GOP generally likes privatization. I have no strong feelings and only think the matter should be investigated. But ALL of your points were complete nonsense.
Is there no one who can make Northampton County as great as Lehigh County? No wonder some of us would like to be annexed by Lehigh County.
ReplyDeleteOf course, it is. They should be county employees, plain and simple. They are here and they work with us. IT has always been helpful but why do you need them to be employed by another company. Why do we have to pay a middleman? There is no way that it can be cheaper to pay someone else who is already in the building. IT really came out swinging with the whole corona thing. I got sent to work from home they got me and my co-workers laptops along with instructions to access my county computer and files. As you said it all came without notice, but they were right there. They made it possible for me to work from home and stay safe. I have nothing bad to say about them especially after this whole virus mess.
ReplyDelete