Modernizing a county’s IT department and transforming their technology infrastructure
Featured success story
Executive Interim Staffing
Population: 140,000
Client background
Ector County, situated in west Texas, faced significant challenges due to rapid economic and population growth driven by the flourishing oil industry. Hindered by years of limited technology investments, the county struggled to meet the rising service expectations of businesses and citizens. The County Commissioner undertook the task of overhauling the outdated data infrastructure to enhance overall operations, addressing the non-existent network infrastructure and disconnected applications that impeded government responsiveness.
The business challenge
Obsolete IT infrastructure and fragmented applications forced departments throughout Ector County to operate as independent and isolated entities. Budgetary limitations had frozen technology improvements for decades. Failed attempts to modernize the technology environment eroded trust in the IT Department’s abilities and further complicated a complex approval process in a highly charged political environment. A monumental undertaking was required to establish an efficient and connected operation of all county services, judicial and law enforcement systems, and administrative functions.
Strategy and solution
Sciens Consulting conducted an extensive independent assessment of Ector County's IT systems, covering operational review, IT inventory, and disaster contingency analysis. Recommendations based on ITIL industry standards were presented, leading to the development of a 5-year Strategic Technology Plan with budgets, timelines, and prioritized projects. Some of the projects that Sciens actively managed were:
Implemented a wireless network connecting 14 sites.
Installed new desktops to enhance overall system capabilities.
Successfully deployed a new court management system, overcoming previous postponements.
Upgraded infrastructure, enabling the County to launch a new website.
Improved citizen access to information and provided dedicated resources for job applications.
The successful 5-year technology overhaul for Ector County achieved fully functional IT and communication systems, exceeding expectations by finishing 40% under budget and within the projected timeline. The implementation included a unified email and calendaring system, replacing interoffice mail with faster and more efficient digital processes. This transition eliminated the need for paperwork storage, saving space and accelerating access to information. Additionally, advanced data protection measures and safeguards against cyber threats were established through cost-effective offsite data centers.
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