National Aeronautics and Space Administration

IT Talk January - March 2013 Volume 3 • Issue 1

Connecting Anywhere, Anytime

www..gov IT Talk In this Issue Jan - Mar 2013 Volume 3 • Issue 1

Office of the CIO NASA Headquarters 300 E Street, SW 3 Message from Washington, D.C. 20546 the CIO Chief Information Officer Linda Y. Cureton Editor and Publication Manager Eldora Valentine Editor and Writer 4 AMES IT Security Lab Sarah Rigdon and NASA FedScoop Graphic and Web Design Michael Porterfield Awards

IT Talk is an official publication of the Office of the Chief Information Officer of the National Aeronautics and Connecting Space Administration, Headquarters, Anywhere, Anytime: Washington, D.C. It is published by the OCIO office for all NASA NASA’s Virtual employees and external audiences. 6 Executive Summit For distribution questions or to suggest a story idea, email: [email protected] NEACC Support for To read IT Talk online visit: nasa.gov/offices/ocio/ittalk NASA’s 2012 Virtual 8 Executive Summit For more info on the OCIO: v www.nasa.gov/ocio v insidenasa.nasa.gov/ocio (Internal NASA network only) v www.nasa.gov/open/ 12 Enterprise Licensing facebook.com/NASAcio Management Team .com/NASAcio (ELMT) Is There for You! Cybersecurity Begins Message and Ends with You! By Meredith Mengel, OCIO IT Security Division from the “Laptop with NASA workers’ personal CIO data is stolen”—NBC News Stories alerting the public to NASA’s most recent security By Linda Cureton breach dominated headlines over the last several weeks. All civil servants and contractors play a major role in NASA’s ability to safeguard IT assets from cybercriminals, hackers, and other groups. By creating a united front, As we flip our calendars and embrace 2013, I think about the NASA employees can protect, prevent, and preserve challenges ahead and the rapidly evolving pace of technology. NASA data and information systems—the key to beginning the cybersecurity transformation at NASA. One of the greatest challenges I face as NASA’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) is how to empower the NASA community’s use How well are you protecting the information you use on a of emerging technologies while ensuring that use does not daily basis? Here are some tips for keeping your identity compromise NASA’s mission. This balancing act is a critical part and data safe—and the world’s focus on NASA’s good work. of the decisions I make in leading the organization forward. ҆҆ Complete NASA’s Annual IT Security Awareness So with this in mind, this year, just like all the rest, I have some proposed Training. This training is required for all Federal and key goals. Here are several of my 2013 New Year’s resolutions: contractor employees, and for good reason. It covers the protection of your desktop and home computers, 1. IT Security is our top priority. Ensuring that NASA data is more safeguarding your identity and data, and privacy secure is critical for our Agency. Our equipment and information best practices. Be sure to complete this training as must be protected against vulnerabilities and breaches. soon as you can; it’s an important first step toward 2. Embrace mobile technologies. learning how to protect and safeguard information.

3. Firm up policies on bring-your-own-device (BYOD). ҆҆ Know how to protect your laptop and the 4. Remove the stigma out of “remote” and encourage more Centers information on it in case a loss or theft occurs: to feel comfortable in embracing the concept of telework. 1. Lock your laptop when you’re not using it. 5. Use collaborative technologies more. Recently, we launched a 2. When transporting your laptop, Virtual Executive Summit that had over 600 executives Agency- keep it with you at all times. wide gather remotely using collaborative technologies. This helped 3. Laptops should be taken into your home put us one giant leap closer to implementing Administrator Charlie or office, immediately. Do not leave them Bolden’s vision of an anywhere, anyplace, anytime organization. in the trunk or back seat of your car. 6. Improve service delivery. 4. Laptops are required to be updated with Data-At-Rest We will no doubt face challenges in meeting some of these goals. (DAR) encryption before leaving Government facilities. We must all learn to do more with less and live with it. Budget cuts 5. Use strong passwords that are not easy to guess, are here to stay! But if we work smarter and more strategically, and store them separately from your laptop. I believe there is nothing we as a team cannot accomplish. ҆҆ Avoid clicking on unfamiliar links or downloading ­—Linda files from email, Facebook, or other popular communication tools, regardless of who sent them. Destructive malware uses these environments to spread and weaken your computer’s security. NASA is depending on all employees to help keep all data and systems safe! If you have questions, suggestions, or tips for improving cybersecurity at NASA, please send them to [email protected]. v

NASA OCIO IT Talk January-March 2013 3 Happy New Year from the staff in the NASA OCIO Ames’s IT Security NASA FedScoop Innovation Lab Team Wins 2012 U.S. Award Winners FedScoop recently honored Federal Congratulations to all our NASA winners. National Cybersecurity technology leaders, innovators, and ҆ Golden Gov—Federal Executives Innovation Award rising stars at the first annual FedScoop ҆ 50 Awards on November 28, 2012, of the Year: Linda Cureton The IT Security Innovation Lab team developed in Washington, DC. More than 150 ҆҆ Federal IT Program of the and implemented a tool that identifies, attendees from the White House, U.S. Year: NASA IT Labs monitors, and raises the visibility of IT Security Department of Defense, civilian agencies, vulnerabilities at a very low cost across multiple and industry were in attendance.The ҆҆ FedMentors of the Year: Emma NASA Centers. Team members Matt Linton (IT 50 awardees were nominated by their Antunes, Web Manager, NASA; and security operations lead) and Chris and Matt peers throughout Government and Antoun (Web developers) developed, tested, Nicholas Skytland, Program Manager, and launched the tool quickly and efficiently. then voted on by FedScoop’s readers. Open Innovation Program, NASA More than 8,000 votes were cast The team modified Ames’s vulnerability for the awards that honored Federal For more information, visit detection program to bring responsibility directly executives, Federal leaders, industry http://fedscoop.com/fedscoop- to system administrators and technical staff— leaders, Federal IT programs, Federal 50-awards-honor-top-federal- those who can fix the problems. By normalizing and tabulating Common Vulnerability Scoring innovations, mentors, and up-and-comers. it-innovators-of-2012/ v System values for each host and cross- referencing hosts to our asset inventory, Centers are now able to produce a “scoreboard” showing which hosts are security heroes and which are security problems. The scores are further modified by constantly scanning the Center from a truly external server and adjusting scores upward when vulnerable hosts have services exposed beyond Agency firewalls. This win would not have been possible without an Agency-wide team effort that includes Jon Davis at Goddard Space Flight Center, Howard Whyte at Headquarters, and many systems administrators and IT security personnel who tested and provided input on the tool. To view the full details of the innovation award, visit the NASA Ames News and Events site at: http://www.nasa.gov/ centers/ames/news/releases/2012/ rel_cybersecurity-innovation-award.html. v

Ames’s IT Security Innovation Lab Team: (l–r) Allison Wolff, Linda Cureton, and Nick Skytland. Chris Antoun, Matt Linton, Matt Antoun. Photo by Nicholas Theodore

4 www.nasa.gov NASA OCIO and JAXA Representatives Meet in Maryland By Lynn Heimerl, STI Program Manager The NASA Office of the Chief Information achieve its nation’s policy objectives. A large JAXA harvests the metadata via the Open Officer (OCIO); the Agency-wide Scientific portion of the JAXA Aerospace Information Archives Initiative (OAI) from the public and Technical Information (STI) Program; and Reports Exchange (AIREX) System is interface to the NASA STI repository, which and its contractor, the NASA Center for composed of NASA STI information. is called the NASA Technical Reports Server. AeroSpace Information (CASI), recently The OAI is an initiative funded by the The NASA STI Program, which has been in hosted personnel from the Japan Aerospace Andrew Mellon Foundation, the Coalition for existence since the 1960s, is chartered to Exploration Agency (JAXA). The meeting took Networked Information, the Digital Library collect, organize, disseminate, and preserve place at the CASI facility in Hanover, MD. Federation, Microsoft, and the National NASA’s published research and development Science Foundation. For more information, STI and JAXA have an information exchange information defined as STI. The STI Database visit http://www.openarchives.org. agreement. This exchange has been (“Organize STI”) has the NASA Technical extremely beneficial for both organizations Reports Server (NTRS) for public use and the STI ensures dissemination to mandatory in helping to expand aerospace research and NASA Aeronautics and Space Database (NA&SD) Federal organizations and to commercial development information for their personnel. for internal NASA use. The program is also search engines. STI also disseminates chartered to provide the Agency with technical information to Google Scholar, which Meeting participants included Deborah publications policy and ensure that all STI is provides citation analysis for NASA Diaz, NASA Deputy Chief Information Officer reviewed and approved for technical quality authors and researchers. (CIO); Karen Petraska, Associate Deputy, and restrictions and limitations prior to release. Tech Integration & SE Computing Services CASI is the STI Program contractor that In addition, STI collects and makes available at Headquarters; Lynn Heimerl, STI Program handles the day-to-day implementation to NASA international STI from noncommercial Manager; Gerald Steeman, STI Program of the NASA STI charter. CASI is currently exchange partners. STI also produces the Analyst; Laurie Johansen, STI Contracting managed by Chugach Federal Solutions, Inc., Spinoff publication through the CASI contract Officer’s Technical Representative (COTR) and (CFSI) on a 5-year, fixed-price, indefinite- for the NASA Office of the Chief Technologist. Resources Manager; Ann Dixon, CASI Program delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract Manager; and Eric Kamenitzer, CASI Deputy The NASA STI Program collects, organizes, through . Program Manager. JAXA participants included disseminates, and preserves NASA’s For more information on NASA STI Akiko Fujii, Administrator, Information Systems research and development results. and CASI, see http://www.sti.nasa. Department, Knowledge Management System STI produces Spinoff for the Office gov. For information on JAXA, see http:// Expert; Nobuto Yoshioka, Associate Senior of the Chief Technologist. www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html. Engineer, Engineering Digital Innovation Center, v Information/Aerospace System Specialist; and Norimitsu Kamimori, Director, JAXA Washington, DC, Office. Also included were Tony Anania and Grant Stoddard of the NASA data center consolidation initiative. Michael Genuardi of CASI helped with day-to-day activities associated with fulfillment of the exchange agreement. Discussions centered on background information on the NASA STI Program and CASI, JAXA activities and organization, new developments in information management, and a discussion of possible improvements in the joint NASA-JAXA exchange agreement. On October 1, 2003, the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS), the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL), and the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) were merged into one independent administrative institution to perform all of Japan’s aerospace activities as one organization, from basic research and development to utilization. The independent administrative institution is the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Per JAXA, space development and utilization and aviation From left to right: Tony Anania (NASA), Norimitsu Kamimori (JAXA), Deborah Diaz (NASA), Eric Kamenitzer research and development are steps to (CASI), Laurie Johansen (NASA), Karen Petraska (NASA), Lynn Heimerl (NASA), Akiko Fujii (JAXA), and Nobuto Yoshioka (JAXA). Not pictured: Ann Dixon (CASI), Gerald Steeman (NASA), and Grant Stoddard (NASA).

NASA OCIO IT Talk January-March 2013 5 Connecting Anywhere, Anytime: NASA’s Virtual Executive Summit NASA conducted its annual Executive viewing and commenting on videos, Summit the entire month of October participating in live sessions using 2012. The Executive Summit provided a Adobe Connect and by attending forum whereby NASA executives could the one-day onsite at their Center. collaborate with each other, attend learning Executives could network with peers, sessions, and have the opportunity pose questions to the knowledgeable to hear from NASA leadership on key virtual community, share ideas, and strategic issues. In the spirit of NASA’s interact with senior leadership on commitment to discovery, protection of challenging issues. Just as important our environment, and utilization of the as the exchange of information, the latest technology, this year’s Executive Virtual Executive Summit provided Summit was entirely virtual, and by an opportunity for executives to all accounts, a resounding success. become more knowledgeable about This experiment incorporated suggestions the technology they were using and from last year’s participants, while taking its potential for use in facilitating the summit in a new, uncertain direction. future meetings and events. presentations, and technical support. Its success depended on everyone’s Carol Carroll, Deputy Director for Science, Because the format was different this year, willingness to take that step and commit NASA Ames Research Center, is optimistic planners incorporated pre recorded how- to the potential of a virtual summit. about the use of virtual technology at to sessions describing Adobe Connect, Ultimately, considerable planning and NASA. “This has been a terrific way and live session content guidance to coordination resulted in a collaborative to communicate with the NASA SES ensure that everyone was comfortable. and interactive summit that engaged [Senior Executive Service] corps. It was approximately 570 executives, 80 percent easy to use and informative. I think The online environment allowed flexibility of whom participated in the virtual events. this could and should be used more in how, where, and when executives Greg Schmidt, Deputy Director of the often, for example, after the election in participated. For example, during the NASA Lunar Science Institute, shared his November and after the budget rollout in first two weeks in October, executives appreciation of the new format. “Hearty February. The corporate world regularly completed activities independently congratulations to you and everyone has video chats with their senior leaders from anywhere and on their own time. on this team who accomplished such to share information about important When Administrator Bolden addressed a great task! This is very much in line and timely topics throughout the year. executives on October 30, it was an with Obama's executive order 13589, I would encourage NASA to have these interactive session using Adobe Connect. November 9, 2011 (http://www.gpo.gov/ SES virtual meetings several times a Each Center arranged a conference fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-11-15/pdf/2011- year for specific topics of interest.” room that had a quality speakerphone, a computer with a quality Web camera, 29683.pdf), which says in part “agencies One of the goals of the Virtual Summit was and projection equipment so that are encouraged to devise strategic to take advantage of the technology that everyone could participate. One of alternatives to Government travel, including allowed for distance learning, messaging, the unexpected benefits of the virtual local or technological alternatives, such as and virtual interaction without it actually summit was realized during Hurricane teleconferencing and videoconferencing.” being the focus. Planners designed the Sandy when Headquarters was closed. Some of the immediate benefits of the websites for ease of use and accessibility The summit continued, and Assistant virtual summit include tremendous in order to encourage participation and Administrator Lori Garver presented as cost savings. Because executives did ensure that users have a good experience. scheduled from the safety of her home. not travel to the summit, NASA saved Another consideration for designers is about $750,000 in travel expenses. The that technology in all its forms should Planners credit the success of the Virtual summit also exposed executives to new be transparent so that participants can Executive Summit to the concerted technologies. During the month of October, concentrate on the subject matter of the effort across Centers: The summit executives could access the 2012 Virtual presentation without distractions. The was successful to a large degree Executive Summit from a single launch Executive Summit website addressed because both planners and executives page on the HR portal. In addition to the these requirements by providing users embraced change and had the desire website, executives could participate by with a home base for schedules, to learn and use new technology. v

6 www.nasa.gov

Virtualization Evolves at JSC By Neesha Hosein, Public Relations Specialist

As teleworking becomes more common sharing capabilities to NASA employees and of updating many of its telephone systems to across the Agency, wishing to be in partners. Other applications in the prototype move from old analog phones to digital ones that two places at once isn’t just a saying are Vidyo, Adobe Connect, and Blue Jeans. use computer Internet Protocol (IP) networks. anymore; it’s an option. The Johnson “The CTO community is ready to report the This will enable the availability of a new Space Center (JSC) piloted the LifeSize prototype out to the ITMB for an extended productivity suite called Unified Communications telepresence systems, now available prototype/pilot with many more customers and Collaboration (UCC), which allows email, throughout the Agency. This technology participating,” said James McClellan, JSC CTO. voicemail, instant messaging, texting, video, provides a high-definition (HD), life-like “Google Docs was an IT Labs pilot that is about to and other rich media to be integrated in a video feed with presentation capabilities. become a production system and will be available way that allows users to control them as a whole and create what is called “presence.” JSC is also participating in the Chief for purchase soon from ACES. These tools will Technology Officer (CTO) Community Desktop enable the ‘work from anywhere’ directive along At JSC, several prototypes are under the Videoconferencing prototype, sponsoring the with tools we already have, like WebEx.” Office of the Future initiative including a Virtual VSee application. This is a cloud-based public We’re seeing rapid evolution of collaboration Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) prototype for both application that allows video, audio, and tools with the blast of apps in iTunes and office automation (desktop)-type computers and presentation as well as drag-and-drop, file- Google Play, and NASA is also in the process one for high-power engineering workstations. v The Next Best Thing to Being There: The JPL/Goddard Presentation Experiment By Tom Soderstrom, CTO, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology; Paul Hunter, CTO, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center; Gabriel Rangel, Solutions Engineer, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology

Since 2008, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) with anything new, there were a few technical There were lessons learned from the experience Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) issues at the start as several technologies were and some fine-tuning needed. This experiment has investigated new avenues for collaboration involved. Using high-definition video conferencing could possibly greatly assist in attracting world- through high-definition (HD) video conferencing. (LifeSize, ViTS, H.323), the talk was successful. class speakers to present at NASA Centers, JPL was one of the first Centers to use LifeSize, JPL gave the presentation using Prezi directly saving time and money and enabling future now available at several NASA Centers and over the Internet, enabling the sharing of videos coengineering opportunities that leverage Headquarters. So when Tom Soderstrom and and animations locally. Next was the interactive remote augmented reality. The willingness to try Gabriel Rangel were invited by Paul Hunter to demonstration of the Spacecraft 3D augmented something new and make it work by the GSFC/ give a talk to the Goddard Information Science reality app. Using AirPlay and Adobe Connect, JPL team made this effort a success. v and Technology Colloquium about innovating the audience was able to see through the lens together, they decided to try something new: of the iPhone camera at JPL; acquire the “target How to enable a multimedia-rich presentation image” held by an audience member at Goddard; with an engaging interactive demonstration and experience augmented reality through video without being there in person. conference screens separated by 3,000 miles. The talk was held at Goddard Space Flight Center The talk concluded with an interactive Q&A (GSFC) November 14, 2012. Tom and Gabriel session. When asked, audience members were “presented” from the OCIO offices at JPL to very positive about the experience and found it to an audience in a large auditorium at GSFC. As be highly effective, interactive, and fun.

Virtual Is Reality at Glenn By Kristin Ratino, Communications Lead, Use of virtual technology is a widely accepted to videoconferencing to fill that gap. Meeting technology, participants are no longer practice with leadership and project teams virtually can generate thousands of dollars in restricted to conference rooms or offices: at the Glenn Research Center. In response savings each year when you look at just the videoconferencing tools available on laptops, to the challenge of limited travel budgets, costs associated with travel: airfare, hotel, tablets, and smartphones have enabled team use of videoconferencing technology has meals, car rentals/taxi service. But teams members to participate from nearly anywhere grown throughout organizations across the aren’t just realizing a monetary savings. an Internet connection is available. While Center. Teams are strategically assessing the Reducing travel also equates to a reduced many users of videoconferencing agree that way they work and looking for opportunities carbon footprint—less energy and fuel used the technology may not replace the personal to conserve and utilize travel budgets for transportation. Additionally, virtual meetings efficiently. Cross-Center and external partner often result in increased participation. Team engagement associated with face-to-face collaboration is on the rise, and when members can participate in a virtual meeting meetings, teams recognize the value and teams were challenged with reduced travel across the country as easily as if they were benefits of virtual technology. They continue allocations, they sought out alternatives to meeting with a colleague who is colocated, to identify opportunities to engage colleagues group meetings to effectively work together. without any of the associated travel costs. and customers utilizing videoconferencing in Managers and project teams alike are turning Moreover, with the continued growth in lieu of face-to-face meetings. v

NASA OCIO IT Talk January-March 2013 7 NEACC Support for NASA’s 2012 MSFC Virtual Virtual Executive Summit Meetings Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has Teams across the Agency collaborated and tracking for reporting daily statistics. to successfully produce the 2012 Virtual Adobe Connect was used for user acceptance been leveraging technology to work smarter Executive Summit (VES). The NASA Enterprise testing to view demonstrations of the new for many years. With shrinking budgets in Applications Competency Center (NEACC) functionality and provide test results instantly. all areas, including travel, the Center has was an integral contributor for the event. seen an increase in use of NASA’s Video Three live two-hour training sessions were Teleconferencing Services (ViTS) and WebEx The NEACC engineering group provided conducted with the Center IT point-of-contact to meet virtually in support of accomplishing virtualized infrastructure and increased (POC) community on the functionality of the its critical business objectives. central processor unit (CPU) and random VES storefront. The IT POCs were the first access memory (RAM) dynamically with no line of support at each Center for members In the last three years, Marshall has impact to the customers and without requiring of the SES community. Usage statistics averaged almost 70 ViTS per month. Many any outages. Through the use of NEACC were reporting daily to the product owners, of these ViTS connect Marshall senior tools, test scenarios and automated test evolving from basic usage counts to more leaders with the Agency, including NASA scripts were quickly developed for verifying comprehensive reporting (key stats: 566 Headquarters and all other Centers. This that the environment could support the unique users, 31,619 page views). The content includes a weekly senior management ViTS, expected user load. Application monitoring of the storefront portlets was a collaborative where Marshall’s Center Director shares helped to prevent any user impacts. development effort involving the Johnson insights into Marshall and hears how issues Space Center (JSC) and NEACC resources. The NEACC Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) are impacting other Centers. There are Constant brainstorming sessions resulted also weekly or monthly calls within most line of business oversaw the temporary in many new components for VES. To quote directorates and institutional support offices, infrastructure augmentations on both the NEACC lead for the human capital and such as weekly chief information officer the portal and appstack infrastructure workforce line of business: “The NEACC (CIO) meetings, monthly human capital to ensure support for 500–600 potential development team was presented with the concurrent users. Solid performance task of pulling this off without much in the meetings, legal Agency-wide meetings, was delivered throughout the event. way of requirements—they definitely proved and periodic procurement ViTS. The Center operations group discusses facilities through The NEACC was able to secure the their ability to be agile, flexible, and innovative monthly Master Planning ViTS, and the executivesummit.nasa.gov URL/DNS entry. and adjust quickly to pressing timelines.” public affairs officers (PAOs) at Marshall A new portal “storefront” was created and The entire project was turned around participate in a monthly ViTS with PAOs from deployed on the NEACC’s portal framework, in less than five work weeks from the all Centers. Marshall also frequently uses featuring an “event week” calendar showing authority to proceed with development. ViTS to connect with the Michoud Assembly daily offerings with links to those sessions. Much of the functionality can be reused, Facility (MAF) and to work remotely with A chat room portlet was made available not only with future summits, but also MAF management on important issues. 24/7 during the month of the summit, and with other NEACC storefronts such as the a registration portlet was deployed for HR portal and bReady. Because of this The Space Launch System Program Office live sessions, including a user itinerary. project, nearly 600 executives were able leverages ViTS as a cost-effective way A threaded message-board forum was to participate in the monthlong event from to communicate as it builds the nation’s provided for in-depth topics, questions, and their workspace or wherever they may have new heavy-lift rocket. This includes answers. Support for the portal included 508 been at any given time, saving the Agency a connecting with the Human Exploration and compliance adjustments as well as analytics considerable amount of travel expense. v Operations Mission Directorate (HEOMD) and integrating with other groups across the Center, such as having monthly meetings with Langley to discuss the Launch Abort System. The Marshall Science and Technology Office also leverages ViTS for planning visible activities, such as the MARS Rover event this year. Many of the ViTS meetings are accompanied by WebEx, an online tool that allows users to share materials and facilitate productivity while cutting back on sharing large files through email. Marshall will continue to leverage both Video Teleconferencing and WebEx technologies to work more effectively and efficiently. v

8 www.nasa.gov Desktop and Mobile Video Conferencing Prototyping for NASA By Ed McLarney, LaRC Chief Technology Officer Innovators across the Agency have for low-bandwidth collaboration In the meantime, users interested been busy prototyping desktop and with the International Space Station. in prototyping with emerging video mobile video conferencing solutions The Astrobiology Institute at Ames collaboration systems should contact for NASA users and are working Research Center has been a longtime one of the following POCs: through the process of taking these advocate for collaboration and provides • Vidyo—CSO: Kathy Hatley/ products from prototypes to pilots and Adobe Connect for its users. Adobe Bobby Collins (both at Marshall). eventually to production capabilities. Connect was used by senior executives LaRC user: Ed McLarney The Agency Communications Service Agency-wide for the first-ever NASA • VSee—James McClellan at JSC Office (CSO) and chief technology Virtual Executive Summit in October Adobe Connect—Estelle officers (CTOs) for IT from several • 2012. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory Dodson/Marco Boldt Centers divided the problem set to look (JPL) experimented with a number of at several leading solutions. The CSO • Blue Jeans/Cloud video and Langley Research Center (LaRC) cloud-based collaboration solutions to collaboration—Tom Soderstrom/ worked together with a product called include Blue Jeans, which can act as Gabriel Rangel at JPL Vidyo, which links existing ViTS systems a bridge between multiple solutions. Chief technology officers and IT with desktop and mobile collaboration. Each of these products has pros and innovators across the Agency have The CSO currently has Vidyo available cons, and the CSO and CTO community participated in testing these solutions. for prototype users across the Agency. are working through experimentation If you’re interested, please contact your worked with and analysis, with additional briefings Center CTO for IT or one of the POCs a product called VSee, which is used to IT leadership coming soon. listed above. Have fun collaborating! v How Ames Research Center (ARC) Meets Virtually By Estelle Dodson, Collaboration Technologies Manager

As technological advances open up a The largest workshop thus far had 26 attendees from around the world. Eleven globally connected world, NASA Ames speakers presenting from 19 locations of these lectures were presented remotely Research Center (ARC) is using them to more than 400 participants. One by renowned scientists who would not to improve communication and enable workshop participant stated, “Having have been able to participate without greater collaboration across distances workshops like these, which are very the use of these virtual technologies. and disciplines. Building on the collective interactive, and accessible to virtually anyone…encourages collaboration Whether it’s Workshops Without Walls, expertise of NASA’s virtual institutes, ARC and is a push towards new frontiers All-Access events, or Student Summer is currently producing virtual programs of knowledge collectively.” programs, all of these activities are posted called “Workshops Without Walls.” online for attendees to reference and for These multiday virtual conferences All-Access events are a similar approach. NASA to share with a broader audience. connect presenters with hundreds of The Kepler Science Conference recently The success of these events and virtual participants without any travel required. broadcast a well-attended in-person meeting to hundreds of online viewers. work depends on not only integrating These workshops combine a variety Remote attendees of an All-Access multiple technologies, but also on an of online resources, including high- event interact with each other via chat innovative approach—combining the definition videoconferencing, desktop and have their questions answered best research from human factors video, real-time meeting applications, real-time by the presenters over the and organizational management, and social networking. The result is an video broadcast. A hybrid of these two while providing a rich, engaging, optimal experience for remote and in- approaches was used recently, when and easy-to-use virtual experience. person participants, from any location, students of a two-week Earth Sciences It’s another step to a future in which using almost any device—even on program attended 29 broadcast lectures NASA employees can truly work from the go via tablets and smartphones. at Ames along with hundreds of online anywhere, even other planets. v

NASA OCIO IT Talk January-March 2013 9 IT Infrastructure Integration Program (I3P) Update

Communications Services most any device. Additional information information on what to do regarding lost, Office (CSO)/NASA Integrated will be provided once the service becomes stolen and damaged devices, go to https:// Communications Services (NICS) available in the Enterprise Service Desk. aces.ndc.nasa.gov/subnav/lost.html.

The Communications Services Office The CSO has begun to update and iPhone 5 Status: The iPhone 5 is now (CSO) completed the critical designs for expand the Enterprise Architecture (EA) available through the ACES contract two key standardization projects that will for CSO/NICS services. An initial review and is the standard seat for users improve NASA Integrated Communications of the switched voice, collaboration, requesting an iPhone. Orders may be Services (NICS) efficiencies: the Corporate and digital television services has been made through the Enterprise Service Consolidated Network Operations Center conducted. The EA effort is gathering the Desk, with the choice of having AT&T (C2NOC) (e.g., Network Management and information on current as-is architecture or Verizon as the carrier. The Standard Monitoring) and the NICS Consolidated of the service, customer base, service delivery time for the iPhone 5 is five Configuration Management System partners, and any plans for changes in business days from the date of request. (NC2MS) Release 1 (LAN, Firewalls, the service. Once completed, the CSO DNC, etc.). The CSO is on schedule EA will provide a base for our service Windows 8 Update: In October, Microsoft to begin implementation of these two architectures and provide information released the newest version of its desktop transformational initiatives in early 2013. for supporting not only our future operating system (OS), Windows 8, which service changes, but also any support uses a touch-based interface similar to The CSO has also made significant needed for other I3P service offices. many popular mobile operating systems. progress in the deployment of Internet The Agency’s IT service providers are Protocol version 6 (IPv6) network Agency Consolidated End-User Services actively working to develop a timeline infrastructure and access over the Office Deployments: The Agency is for the best approach and timing for past several months. IPv6 address making progress on transitioning its IT NASA to adopt this new Windows OS plans have been approved for most services to an enterprise-wide solution. As environment. Until a plan is complete and Centers, IPv6 routing and domain name part of the Agency Consolidated End-User fully implemented, NASA and ACES will not services have been enabled to the Services (ACES) contract, held by Hewlett be able to adopt or provide support for any Internet, and Centers are progressing Packard, the Agency has now deployed aspect of this new operating system. As to enable IPv6 routing locally. over 18,000 systems Agency-wide. All a result, any Windows 8 installation existing systems should be refreshed The CSO is also working with the CIO that causes security considerations or under the ACES contract by late 2014. chief technologist on several endeavors: concerns may be removed from the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and NASA DAR Update: The agency NASA network. Before the system can Desktop Mobile Video Conferencing (DMV) deadline to complete Data At Rest (DAR) be placed back on the NASA network, (an extension of the current CSO Video Encryption on each ACES machine was the system may require reloading of the Teleconferencing Service [ViTS]). A VoIP late December. DAR protects the data on currently supported, NASA-approved Identity Protection Technology (IPT) team your computer while it is powered off. ACES system software. Any NASA project formed and met the week of December DAR protection prevents anyone except personnel intending to use Windows 8 3 to discuss requirements, available you from logging on to your computer functionality before NASA formally adopts technologies, and current Center needs as and protects all data on your hard drive the new Windows environment should well as plans to support implementation using hard drive encryption. Most laptops contact their local ACES subject matter of an Agency-wide phone replacement now have DAR installed and active, expert (SME) to discuss requirements, strategy. The DMV team has completed a ensuring the greatest level of security. intended use, and potential risks. prototyping stage and is preparing a pilot All new machines will come pre-loaded Enterprise Applications Service for Agency-wide use. The DMV service, with DAR. For more information on Office/NASA Enterprise Applications based on the Vidyo product, will provide DAR, go to https://aces.ndc.nasa.gov/ Competency Center (EASO/NEACC): video conferencing between Center subnav/dar.html. In the event a NASA conference rooms (Polycom and LifeSize) IT device is lost or stolen, it is critical to A modification to the Enterprise to desktop (MAC, Linux, and PC) and/ report the incident immediately. Proper Applications Service Technology (EAST) or mobile (iPads, iPhones, and Androids) reporting procedures minimize security contract was targeted for late December devices. The DMV service will expand the vulnerabilities and productivity loss, while 2012 to end stabilization and respond ability to work from anywhere and with enabling faster return to service. For more to a significant budget cut. Three large

10 www.nasa.gov IT projects are slated for FY13 and are the One Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI) grasp on which requests that they are currently in the preplanning phase. The and Office of Education Performance responsible for reviewing (and what ICAM Modernization project will replace Measurement (OEPM) applications. they should do if they receive a request aging infrastructure, and the eTravel Major enhancements are in the planning that they should not receive). Also, Org System II (ETS2) project will implement stage for delivery of reengineered approvers need to understand which an eGov replacement for our current data collection screens in OEPM and IT approvers and resource approvers FedTraveler system. The Electronic Forms a Business Intelligence (BI) capability that they should select for requests Initiative (EFI) project will replace the IBM across both apps. The Product life-cycle within their organization. The ESD FileNet-based NASA Electronic Forms management/product data management team will be available to help craft System (NEFS), hosted by Ames Research (PLM/PDM) line of business, which communications and provide distribution Center (ARC), with the Adobe LiveCycle supports project management across lists for disseminating messages. Enterprise Suite 4. This Agency solution Agency missions, has been primarily will be hosted by the NASA Data Center focused on upgrading Windchill 9.1 to To continue efforts to empower the and supported by the NASA Enterprise version 10.1, which is near completion. voice of the customer, the ESD team has Application Competency Center (NEACC). added a Yammer icon to our social media The current system is no longer supported Enterprise Services Desk (ESD) links (which currently include YouTube, by the vendor, is not 508 compliant, and The ESD enhancements project continues Facebook, and Twitter). The link will allow has SHA-256 interoperability issues. To to progress toward test readiness review, customers to access either the NSSC support Phase 1 (FY13), the initial software which is scheduled for February 25. The group (https://www.yammer.com/nasa. acquisition was completed in September. “Go Live” date is planned for April. One gov/groups/nasasharedservicescenter/ Planning is under way, including a potentially major change the project info) or the Ask I3P group (https://www. supporting EAST Task Order, with the goal will bring concerns IT and resource yammer.com/nasa.gov/groups/aski3p/ of providing a development environment approver queues within the ordering info) within NASA’s Yammer resource. We for the Forms teams across the Agency system. Currently, each Center has one encourage you to join the discussions. to begin learning the capabilities of queue. In some cases, this is inconvenient, the new solution and to begin form as many approvers receive an email for Web Services and WESTPRIME conversion by the end of the year. Phase 1 each request. Once the enhancements NASA has selected InfoZen Inc. implementation is targeted for the spring. project is completed, Centers will have of Rockville, Md., for the Web the flexibility to design these queues Center for Internal Mobile Applications Enterprise Service Technologies to best meet their needs. If the current (CIMA): CIMA (http://apps.nasa.gov) prime blanket purchase agreement methodology works, Centers can keep operates under the EASO/NEACC. The to support agency websites. these queues as they are currently set CIMA team was represented in the up—or, through a series of NASA Account Orders against this blanket purchase “Creating Your Agency’s AppStore” panel Management System (NAMS) requests, agreement (BPA) will be issued on a at the Mobile Government Conference they can implement a new approach. The firm-fixed-price basis. NASA estimates and recently met with U.S. Department ESD team will be working with each the volume of purchases through this of Agriculture representatives regarding Center’s SME (or appropriate delegate) to BPA will be $40 million. The base the development of mobile apps and learn about planned approaches of this period of performance will be one the sharing of lessons learned. new feature for each Center. Centers year with four one-year options. The NEACC was visited by the U.S. will be responsible for communicating Department of the Interior’s Business changes to their users, but the ESD team This procurement will enable an agency- Management Office representatives will be available to assist in the crafting wide capability to create, maintain, to exchange ideas and best practices and dissemination of messages. We and manage websites. The contract for enterprise business applications, want to keep the call agents informed will provide a cloud-based solution for including discussions on business and ensure that they are the best Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform readiness and IT project management. possible resource for callers. We will be as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a The Office of Education Infrastructure encouraging Center communications Service (SaaS) for internal and external Division (OEID) transition project was for any Center implementing significant websites and web applications. Those successfully completed with Go Live at changes. For example, IT and resource services include content management, the end of September 2012. The NEACC approvers need to understand the new and search and collaborative services, operations have expanded to include methodology and should have a firm such as blogs and wikis. v

NASA OCIO IT Talk January-March 2013 11 Enterprise Licensing Management Team (ELMT) Is There for You!

The Enterprise Licensing Management equipment manufacturers and/ inventory. It leverages and adopts the Team Program has been around for or value-added resellers best private- and government-sector years. It was established on April 1, practices as it seeks to streamline ҆ Management of 2008, at the NASA Shared Services ҆ processes to maintain or improve the agreements, to include Center (NSSC) to provide support for level of operations and support while the discovery, analysis, establishment, ҆҆ Establishing an ELMT delivering increased efficiencies and and management of Agency enterprise administrative infrastructure value to NASA. The management of software licensing. The ELMT maintains ҆ Processing requests for the NASA’s software licenses through the licensing and contract consolidation ҆ transfer of available licenses ELMT can help eliminate duplicative initiatives activities for NASA and from a pool of available coverage and overspending on negotiates economy of scale pricing licenses to a Center software, thus increasing the for selected software. These enterprise overall value to the Agency. The agreements optimize cost savings by ҆ Supporting the procurement

҆ ELMT’s focus on strategic sourcing IT Talk leveraging the full purchasing capacity of additional licenses supports NASA’s cost containment of the Agency. By leveraging the ҆ Performing periodic software efforts and strives to support end- ELMT, NASA can greatly improve the ҆ license validation audits user productivity at a better value. Agency’s ability to identify, acquire, The ELMT’s effort to consolidate distribute, and manage software—and ҆҆ Reconciling vendor save NASA funds to use elsewhere. maintenance invoices and software requirements and negotiate The establishment of Enterprise-level payment coordination enterprise agreements for the Agency agreements (with the goal of achieving has the potential to realize significant ҆ Facilitating license “true-up” cost savings, cost avoidance, and ҆ total cost of ownership savings activities prior to renewals providing increased capabilities at in software-licensing acquisition or exercising of options a better value) is being encouraged and maintenance for NASA. As across the Federal Government. ҆҆ Tracking licenses that have been NASA moves through FY13, the phased out in lieu of participation ELMT will continue to enhance its ELMT services include in an agreement but are still business focus by applying the ҆҆ Business case analysis for potential Agency-owned and available to be same planning capability, attention transitions to an Enterprise reutilized by other NASA Centers. to detail, and dedication to business Agreement (e.g., Enterprise License operations that the NSSC consistently The ELMT enables more efficient NASA Agreement, Blanket Purchase strives to provide the Agency. software procurement and business Agreement or consolidated processes through the standardization For information on the latest Agency-wide contract) of many processes, contractual terms, ELMT news and activities, visit ҆҆ Establishment of new and conditions. The ELMT develops a full the ELMT website at http:// agreements with software original awareness of many of NASA’s software www.nssc.nasa.gov/elmt/. v

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