Challenges
1 Source Consulting provides on-site information technology assistance in a research and development capacity to the Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) in its management of the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), the Energy Science Network (ESnet), and numerous other advance scientific computing programs funded by the Office of Science at the Department of Energy. 1 Source Consulting provides the IT assistance necessary to accomplish the office's mission. The challenges of this project include the following:
- Provide highly competent technical capabilities for everything related to IT. This includes, but is not limited to, connectivity and IT infrastructure support, anti-virus, configuration management, cyber security, end-user assistance, web development, email services, disaster recovery, continuity of operations, contingency planning, incident response service, systems vulnerability analysis and assessment, risk assessment, and vulnerability scanning services.
- Research, recommend, and implement new network and computing technologies that assists in accomplishing the business goals of the client
- Build, maintain, and enhance Microsoft Access front-end applications to a SQL database backend. Numerous commercial and open-source software applications were evaluated, tested, and implemented.
- Perform evaluations, recommendations, procurements, management, and maintenance of Linux, UNIX, Cisco, Windows, and other hardware systems, including upgrades, security and bug fix installations (Tier I and Tier II), and deployment into the production environment
- Operate and maintain the offices' leading edge telecommunications center, the Access Grid node, and support for other video teleconferencing technologies, which is an example of the type of advanced scientific computing program funded and managed by the ASCR
- Ensure that clients receive the highest level of performance and service delivery by providing professional and proficient day-to-day technical assistance in operation of the office's research and development network, guaranteeing the success of the clients critical business requirements
Solutions
- 1 Source Consulting provided hardware and software development, integration, research and evaluation, problem resolution, and day-to-day operational services for the network, applications, and systems
- Staff holds technical certifications in their area of expertise
- Project Manager holds Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification
Results
- Currently, 15 major projects have been initiated and the majority completed within the past 4 years with a staff of 4 FTEs
- Hardware improvements and implementations have greatly aided the client in completing their mission
- The client relies on and has confidence with 1 Source Consulting staff
- All client personnel receive mandatory security training and annual security refresher training
- 1 Source Consulting has received a customer satisfaction of 100% on every six-month performance evaluation starting in September 2003
- Numerous acknowledgements have been received for outstanding performance