Accessibility Architecture

Scope

The new standards will provide technical criteria specific to various types of technologies and performance-based requirements focusing on the functional capabilities of covered technologies. Specific criteria cover software applications and operating systems; web-based information or applications; telecommunications functions; video or multi-media products; self contained, closed products such as information kiosks and transaction machines, and computers. Also covered is compatibility with adaptive equipment people with disabilities commonly use for information and communication access.

Application Architecture

Scope

The State of Nebraska, like most large public and private enterprises, relies heavily on computer applications to support its business operations. Because the state's business processes change dynamically in response to both legislation and new demands from citizens, it is important that the state's computer applications also be able to change rapidly.

Application architecture establishes criteria that will facilitate interoperability among applications, the use of the correct application as a solution for a given need, and the ease of use of the applications. The architecture also identifies design principles allowing an application to be modified in operation or data interface to respond to the State's changing business needs.

Data and Information Architecture

Scope

The data and information architecture provides high quality, consistent data for online transactional processing, where and when it is needed. The architecture also provides standards for accessing data for either public access or online analytical processing, including executive information systems and decision support systems. Components of the architecture include: (To be developed)

E-Government Architecture

Scope

E-Government is defined as "the use of technology to enhance information sharing, service delivery, constituency and client participation, and governance by transforming internal and external relationships." This includes transactions between government and business, government and citizen, government and employee, and among different units and levels of government.

The fundamental purpose of the e-government architecture is to facilitate implementation of citizen-centric access to information and services and support deployment of other e-government applications. The architecture can reduce the time and cost of deploying applications, while making it easier to integrate information and services.

The e-government architecture consists of three conceptual layers:

• Presentation
• Enterprise Services
• Applications and Data

The presentation layer starts with the state's gateway for access to electronic records. It includes any interface between the user and e-government information and services. Enterprise services are the support systems that are necessary for delivering applications and information to users. The applications and data layer provide the specific information or resources sought and valued by the user.

Components of the Enterprise Services layer include:

• Accessibility
• Availability
• Digital archiving
• Encryption
• Help Desk for State Web Site and Software Developers
• Help Desk for Users
• Integration Services
• Network and virtual Private Networks
• Payments
• Privacy
• Search Engine Tools
• Secure Signatures
• Security
• Shopping Carts.

Groupware Architecture

Scope

The Groupware Architecture establishes a foundation for collaboration, communication, and workflow. Components of the architecture include:

• Electronic mail
• Directory services
• Calendaring and scheduling
• Imaging systems

Hardware Platform Architecture

Scope

Hardware platform architecture identifies hardware and associated operating systems supporting applications. . The architecture is intended to facilitate a general understanding of decision-making processes related to hardware managed at the enterprise level and to illuminate appropriate standards and guidelines pertinent to hardware managed by an individual agency, board or commission. Principles and Best Practices are documented with the intention of developing a more unified, seamless hardware infrastructure.

Network Architecture

Scope

The Network Architecture defines interconnectivity and provides the communication infrastructure for distributed applications and business locations. The Network Architecture is the design strategy for connecting network elements. This includes physical (bus, star, ring) and logical (ATM, FDDI, Ethernet) network topologies as well as the software protocols (or rules) that enable all the devices to interoperate with one another. Components of the architecture include:

• Local area networks (LAN). A data communications system of multiple interconnected data terminals, computers, or devices confined to a limited geographic area consisting of a single building, a cluster of buildings, or a campus type of arrangement. The network does not use common-carrier circuits, although it may have gateways or bridges to other public or private networks.
  
  
• Wide Area Networks (WAN). A data communications system that serves a large geographic area. WANs are often implemented using common-carrier provided lines. A WAN typically serves as a customized communication "backbone" that interconnects all of an organization's local networks with communications trunks designed to be appropriate for anticipated communication rates and volumes between nodes. The existence of a WAN permits the deployment of file; print, or application servers across the infrastructure to create centrally managed LANs where the close proximity of components is no longer a requirement.
  
  
• Internet. A global collection of interconnected LANs and computers working in a cooperative manner under the standards and guidelines of the Internet Society. The Internet will become the predominant mechanism for conducting business, whether it is business-to-consumer (BTC) or business-to-business (BTB). The term "network-connected" will take on new meanings, with ubiquitous Internet connectivity for developed nations allowing a new wave of telecommuting and remote users, leading to virtual organizations. Internet technologies have become pervasive within our state agencies, and branches into the homes of consumers and public locations such as libraries, airports and hotels. In spite of more advanced technologies (e.g., generic digital subscriber line (xDSL) and satellite), analog dial-up via modems will remain the primary mechanism for consumer access to the Internet for the near future.
  
  
• Intranet. A limited collection of interconnected LANs and standalone computers. An intranet functions the same as the Internet, using the same user interfaces and file transfer protocols. The difference between an Internet and an intranet is that an intranet provides connectivity between specific sites in order to create a pre-determined infrastructure for business units, customers, or designated participants. An intranet is often protected from outside access by a firewall. A firewall typically consists of a router with packet-screening ability that can block traffic between networks or specific host computers.
  
  
• Extranets. Extranets are the secured extensions of internal business processes to known external business partners using Internet-derived applications and technology. The most common evolution of extranets will be the implementation of intranets to gain operational efficiencies, followed by the extension of intranet applications to selected business partners by deploying an extranet. Extranets will first be deployed to arrive at tactical enhancement at the department or business-unit level, rather than the enterprise level. Extranet technologies support a wide variety of E-commerce, collaboration and communication applications, but are still immature. During this early phase, extranets will be implemented to support less-complex business processes and will require proprietary development to fill the gaps in available extranet E-commerce applications. Agencies should consider extranet deployment or participation when they can achieve:
• A secure environment;
• Competitive or operational gains;
• Acceptance by target partners.

Security Architecture

Scope

Security architecture includes protection of the physical, intellectual, and electronic assets of the state, including its security policies, network access controls, virus protection, network administration, transaction security, and workstation security. Security components may be embedded as indicated earlier, in the components, which comprise the information system infrastructure. Components of the architecture include:

• Information Security Management Policy
• Access Control Policy
• Disaster Recovery Policy
• Education, Training, and Awareness Policy
• Incident Reporting Policy
• Individual Use Policy
• Network Security Policy

Systems Management Architecture

Scope

Systems management architecture defines the framework for efficient and effective management of the state's information processing environment needed to support and enhance the productivity of its systems. Systems management can be subdivided into many disciplines; six important disciplines are listed below:

Help Desk - An integrated support services structure that forms the hub for effectively using and deploying technical systems management components. The support services center becomes the central collection point for client contact and control of the problem, change and service management processes.

Operations Management - Encompasses the coordination of system and network resources throughout the enterprise. Its goal is to provide reliable availability for mission critical systems. It includes job scheduling to coordinate jobs and processes in the distributed environment, fault/event management, configuration management, backup and recovery and automated software distribution.

Storage Management - Governs the creation, maintenance and retention of data, including tape and disk management processes.

Performance Monitoring and Tuning - Performance monitoring measures, evaluates and records status information about computer system devices and processes. Tuning applies planned system modifications in order to improve performance. Performance affects how fast and/or how much data is processed.

Security Services - Risk assessment and protection of the physical, intellectual and electronic assets of an enterprise, including security policies, network access, virus protection, firewalls, NOS administration and workstation security.

Disaster Recovery - Recovery plans and technology that insure the continued operation of critical business functions when productivity is threatened by unforeseen circumstances.

Video Architecture

Scope

This section will initially address the specific needs of the synchronous distance learning networks of the state. For these networks, the state will establish standards and a migration strategy for existing distance learning systems. Distance learning entities that intend to use state-owned networks would be required to migrate as circumstances permit per a migration strategy that will be recommended by the Technical Panel and approved by the NITC.

Guidelines will also be provided in this section. Those guidelines would apply to all system that are encoding or transferring video and audio in a digital environment. This section will not set guidelines or standards for transfer of digitized video and audio on networks other than synchronous distance learning networks. There are a variety of transfer methods that might be adopted for asynchronous delivery of digital video and audio. Some general guidelines will be provided in the future for such delivery.