DoF to require DSL and cable at select government offices

The CNMI Department of Finance is requiring all applicable government departments and agencies to acquire DSL or cable connectivity in order to benefit from the improved services of the Finance Department.

DoF Electronic Data Processing Division director Joe I. Quitugua sent a follow up memorandum to all “applicable” department and agency heads early this year that use the JD Edwards Financial Management System and other applications on the IBM AS400 platform.

“The connection is intended for agencies that access JD Edwards via dial-up or leased line on the Wide Area Network,” said Quitugua.

He said his division, through the office of acting Finance Secretary Eloy Inos, would provide the Virtual Private Network and IBM software clients the connection.

He emphasized, though, that since the DSL or cable connection is a shared medium, there would hardware and software security requirements that must be met before his office permits the connection. This would mean upgrading some of the hardware and software of some offices.

The server, desktop computers and laptop operating systems must at least run on Windows 2000 or 2003 server or Windows 2000 or XP Professional. Other versions of Windows OS are not supported, he said.

Current anti-virus software must also reside in all hardware systems. There will be only one router and network cable connection per location and routers recommended are Netgear FVS318 VPN router and Linksys BEFSR41 VPN router. All other mid-range enterprise VPN routers must be compatible and support IP/SEC protocol and NAT, should an office opt to use other brands.

“All systems must have the latest software critical, security and recommended updates and patches,” said Quitugua, adding that a DSL and cable access activation and deactivation request form must be completed to initiate the process.

Quitugua said the primary duty of his office is to provide technical services and support to the Finance Department and to support numerous “nodes” and applications on the Local Area Network and the WAN. He said the implementation schedule of the new improved system must be coordinated with the requesting agency’s Network and Systems administrators to ensure all the requirements are first completed before the installation.

The form is available at the EDP office. Contact Quitugua’s office at 664-1115 or fax the filled out forms at 664-1115.