One of NDIT’s core missions has been to provide all enterprise computing capabilities for the entirety of the executive branch across ND, and it has done so for over 20 years. We currently serve nearly all Executive Branch Agencies, and a few others that have opted to join the infrastructure in the last couple years. All computing systems, whether on-premise or in the cloud, are hosted in our hybrid infrastructure and provide for full image level backup, various synchronous and asynchronous replication technologies for disaster recovery to alternate locations, and have 24x7x365 monitoring. The aim for our agency is to abstract IT from our solutions and provide computing services in a frictionless manner for all capabilities needed across State Government.
We currently have a completely unified support model, enabling a centralized technology set across Compute, Data, Cloud, and including, but not limited to:
2400+ Servers, 4 PB+ of Storage Capacity, 1000+ applications, 3500+ Databases
Our overall IT principals that guide our Enterprise Architecture Strategies, and certainly our Compute Strategy, are listed below. The results of these principals, lead us towards standard solutions and IT procurement that accomplish these aims:
- Enterprise First
- Citizen Focused
- Make Good Use of Data
- Architect for Security and Privacy
- Reuse->Buy->Build
- Target Simplicity and Fit
- Control Technical Diversity
- Adapt and Integrate Technology
- Make Use of Open Standards for Interoperability
Our strategy is to focus on Reuse->Buy->Build for adoption of all computing technologies with an emphasis on:
- Security and Governance of Technology
- Enterprise Architecture and Strategic Planning
- Cloud First/Cloud Smart (Buy versus Build)
- Low Code/No Code Platforms (build if you must)
Hyper-Converged Technologies to Minimize Capital Expenditures and Increase Agility in the interim state and until we are fully cloud
We are planning to be 100% cloud driven within the next 10 years and are approximately 30-40% cloud today across Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service in our State.
Where we are not cloud yet, we’ve implemented converged and hybrid infrastructures, and are moving to managed hardware for nearly all platforms, opening the doorway to flexible architectures that can expand and contract as demand enters (or exits) the IT ecosystem.
From a networking perspective, North Dakota utilizes STAGEnet, which is a converged network that support all government entities and over 250,000 devices. This secure network enables virtually all State, Legislative, Judicial, County, City, K12, and Higher Ed stakeholder to traverse a redundant and diverse 100GB Fiber Network for nearly every use case. This network, along with our Cybersecurity systems, protects against over 4 Billion Threats per year with a layered defense approach, including a zero-trust posture at all critical network security points.
In addition, North Dakota is in the final stages of implementing an approximately $120 million dollar radio network for every first responder and 911 center in our State. Site buildouts are moving fast, but we are expanding from approximately 45 towers in the State to one that includes approximately 140 radio towers (all functioning as mini-data centers) for approximately 20,000 users of the system. Consumers of the system will include first responders, such as State and Tribal Fire, Law Enforcement, and Emergency Medical Services, but will also include everything from transportation, federal agencies, and many more. We have approximately 6 of our major metro areas on the system in production today and the upgrade into the new system is already providing enhancements to interoperability and clarity of communications.
Just as Radio technologies are central to the public safety posture in the State, NDIT also provides redundant connectivity for Next Gen 911 systems in our State and to 20+ Public Safety Answering Points. Central to our mission, we are also providing for compute, network connectivity, and cybersecurity services for the Vantis UAS program and the Northern Plains UAS Test Site, and are poised to be leading the nation working alongside the program and the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). Vantis is utilizing the North Dakota’s statewide fiber optic network to connect its Mission and Network Operations Center to UAS operations around the state with secure and private connections.
Between all of these systems, the structures in place impact nearly every citizen in some way on a daily basis.
In addition, NDIT will continue to work with carriers, Internet Service Providers, and cable companies in North Dakota to help them reach the goal of universal high-speed broadband service to all locations. NDIT will successfully administer grant programs (Capital Projects Fund, Broadband Equity Access and Deployment, and Digitial Equity) to achieve the objective of reaching 100 percent of the locations that are unserved or underserved in 2024 with grant disbursement and completed construction by 2030.