It has been a long and sometimes frustrating road, but by the end of 2012, most

federal agencies will have fully transitioned to contracts under the Networx program. Although this is an important milestone, it is only the first step in realizing the promise of what the Networx program can truly offer.

In a nutshell, GSA’s Networx program is a set of contracts that enables federal agencies to build seamless, secure operating environments through customized telecommunications services. But, when implemented thoughtfully, Networx promises so much more.

With many advanced features, Networx has the potential to deliver next-generation solutions that can bring agencies to the next level, not only by creating greater efficiencies, but also by enabling new and important capabilities.

“Networx is well thought-out as a contract vehicle that offers the perfect opportunity for agencies and the right contractor to craft solutions that bring them to the next

level,” said Diana Gowen, senior vice president and general manager for CenturyLink Government.

Making the most of NetworxGowen points to three areas in particular where Networx can serve as a starting point for true transformation: the move to next-generation wide area networks, data center consolidation and virtualization, and cybersecurity.

“Transitioning to next-generation wide area networks by creating an end-to-end Ethernet infrastructure is the best way for agencies to flatten and simplify their networks,” Gowen said. A contractor that fully understands an agency’s wide area networking needs, working with the millions of CLINs (contract line items) available under Networx, can transform an agency’s network into one that can best take advantage of cloud computing and state-of-the-art applications.

Although Networx may not, on the surface, seem like an important building block to help agencies with data center consolidation and virtualization initiatives, it is actually an important underpinning. The issue, as Gowen explains, is that neither data center consolidation nor virtualization can truly take place without a viable network and the network security that accompanies it. Both of these issues can be remedied with the hosting, virtualization, consolidation and security functions that are available

The promise of Networx: It’s only just begun

“ It’s about taking the building blocks and crafting real solutions. It’s also about thoroughly understanding what the agency needs, which is where CenturyLink excels.”

Diana Gowen, Sr. Vice President and General Manager, CenturyLink Public Sector

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as offerings under Networx. What’s more, Networx is IPv6

enabled and has all of the right elements now to make these things happen. The advanced features that Networx offers, along with an experienced contractor, will help ensure that the right strategy is employed during data center consolidation and virtualization and that it takes into account future cloud migrations and IPV6 (Internet Protocol version 6) integration.

Cybersecurity, along with IPV6, is another important function that can be implemented via intelligent use of the Networx contract vehicle. The Networx program is the single best way of ensuring that agencies are in full compliance with the Office of Management and Budget’s Trusted Internet Connection initiative, commonly referred to as MTIPS (Managed Trusted Internet Protocol Service). Networx has the products that can make that happen, along with IPV6 compatibility.

“All of these requirements are important for agencies, and many of them have not been executed as much as they could have been under the Networx program,” Gowen said. “That’s a big challenge for all of us in the next four to five years.”

Making a differenceThe millions of CLINs available to agencies via Networx contracts are the building blocks that can help transform agencies, but the glue is the right contractor that has the expertise, ingenuity and flexibility to develop solutions that fit an agency’s specific needs and requirements. That means thinking creatively and “outside the box.”

For example, CenturyLink recently completed a project for a military force command under the Networx contract. The project provided WiFi service at reserve

operational support centers across the U.S., which allowed reservists to use their own mobile devices to complete mission-related and readiness-related training tasks.

The project was very successful, but the real value-add was the outside-the-box thinking that went along with it. If the project worked so well in this case, why couldn’t it work well for other federal agencies as well?

That’s exactly what happened as CenturyLink used the successful project as the basis for developing new solutions involving WiFi hotspots for other clients. One of the military supply centers now uses a system of CenturyLink-provided WiFi hotspots throughout its warehouse to track everything in its supply chain. A VA hospital also uses a similar WiFi system that allows patients to use their own mobile devices while inside the building.

“It’s about more than having a portfolio of products that can address customer requirements,” Gowen explained. “It’s about taking

the building blocks and crafting real solutions. It’s also about thoroughly understanding what the agency needs, which is where CenturyLink excels.”

A project CenturyLink recently developed for an independent agency to provide primary managed data network services under the Networx Universal contract provides another good example. Under that contract, CenturyLink is supplying network infrastructure for data, video and voice services and in the process, fostering a deeper collaborative relationship that will provide a bridge to the next-generation data network services.

“The critical part of using Networx contracts as a catalyst to help transform agencies isn’t necessarily the tools; it’s the people who work with the customer,” Gowen says. “It’s about knowing the customer’s issues and then being able to broker a solution between those problems and your portfolio. That takes creativity and agility, both of which CenturyLink has in spades.” •

Some federal agencies may know the company as Qwest, which CenturyLink bought in 2011 to become the nation’s third largest telecommunications company. The company has won numerous federal contracts, many of which focus on its hosting expertise.

CenturyLink is recognized as a leader in the network services market by technology industry analyst firms. The company is a global leader in cloud infrastructure and hosted IT solutions for enterprise customers. CenturyLink provides data, voice and managed services in local, national and select international markets through its high-quality advanced fiber optic network and multiple data centers. CenturyLink is an S&P 500 company and is included among the Fortune 500 list of America’s largest corporations. CenturyLink’s chairman of the board is Adm. William A. Owens, former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

CenturyLink

For more information about CenturyLink Government’s services and offerings, please contact your agency’s representative or email us at CTLfederal.federal@centurylink.com.

For more information on CenturyLink, please go to: CenturyLink.com/federal

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