Information Technology Management (IT) Unit
Mr. Kenneth Balfour, is the Head of the Information Technology
Management (IT) Unit.
The IT Manager has responsibility for the development and
maintenance of a Strategic Information Technology Plan and for
facilitating the continued development of Information Technology
Policy in the Ministry of Planning and Development. In addition, the
IT Manager is responsible for assisting in the integration of IT
strategies within the entire Ministry, rationalizing computer and
technical resources, designing, creating, maintaining networks and
modifying databases as required.
Core Functions
- Create a single entity organization, regardless of
department location, capable of effectively and efficiently
catering to the information requirements of both the internal
and external customers of the Ministry, and;
- Manage the Information Technology and transformation process
of the Ministry.
Achievements
- Implementation of a Network Infrastructure that
interconnects Levels 17, 14, 13, 12, 6 and Ground floor in the
Eric Williams Finance Building, Independence Square, Port of
Spain.
- Implementation of the following documents:
• An Information Technology Policy Framework;
• Guidelines for the acceptable use of Information Technology
resources;
• An Electronic Mail Management Policy;
• An Electronic Mail Disclaimer,
• Guidelines for Information Technology Purchases.
- Implementation of ADSL Broadband Internet Access. The
Service Provider is TSTT.
- Registration of the following Internet Domains to facilitate
a presence on the Internet for the following:
• A Website of Vision 2020; www.vision2020.info.tt
• A Website for the Ministry of Planning and Development;
www.planning.gov.tt
• The Domain name pd.gov.tt for use by the Ministry’s Electronic
Mail Service.
- Deployment of the following Servers, all of which run
Microsoft Windows 2003 Server Family:
• A Domain Controller that performs the role of the Operations
Master and manages user’s access to network resources.
Additional roles are: DNS, DHCP and Time Servers.
• A Proxy and Firewall Server using Microsoft Internet Security
and Acceleration Server 2004 that performs the role of an
Internet Gateway and manages users access to the Internet.
o Web Content Filtering is also deployed on this Server, which
protects against access to undesirable Websites and unwanted
file downloads from the Internet.
• An Electronic Mail Server and Collaboration Server using
Microsoft Exchange 2003 Enterprise Server that manages “Internal
and Internet Mail” and teams of people working together on
documents across the network.
o Electronic Mail security is rigidly enforced on the Mail
Server against Viruses, SPAM and control of receiving and
sending File attachments.
• A File/Print Server that performs the role of the Ministry’s
central Repository for Electronic Files and also manages network
printers.
• A Database Server for all Relational Database Management
Systems (RDBMS). This Server is a Cluster of two Servers and
operates as a single unit.
• A Certification Authority (CA), that manages Digital
Certificates in a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) on the
Ministry’s Local Area Network (LAN). The CA issues Certificates
on the LAN, which enable users to communicate securely by way of
electronic mail, both internally and externally.
o This service also makes possible, secure access into the
Ministry’s Electronic mail Server by way of the Internet using
the Uniform Resource Locator (URL):
https://www.pd.gov.tt/exchange
• A Domain Controller that performs the role of a Secondary DNS
Server and is a Network Storage Device.
• A Secondary Network Attached Storage Device for redundant
storage of all documents and databases.
- Acquisition and deployment of thirty-eight (38) multimedia
computers, five (5) graphic workstations and fourteen (14)
Laptops.
- Subscription to Microsoft Developers Network (MSDN) for one
year.
- Establishment of an Information Technology Unit comprised of
two Analyst/Programmers and one System Support Technician.
- Implementation of a Computer Training Laboratory consisting
of twelve (12) computers running Microsoft Windows XP
Professional and Microsoft Office 2003 Professional.
- At the Central Statistical Office (CSO), located at the
corner of Edward Street and Independence Square Port of Spain.
• Implementation of a Network Infrastructure that interconnects
the fifth, fourth, third, second, first and ground floors.
• Implemetation of ADSL Broadband Internet Access. The Service
Provider is TSTT.
- Registration of the following Internet Domains to facilitate
a presence on the Internet for the following:
• cso.gov.tt for use by the Website of the Central Statistical
Office.
• statistics.gov.tt for use by the Electronic Mail Service of
the Central Statistical Office.
- Deployment of the following Servers, all of which run
Microsoft Windows 2003 Server Family:
• A Domain Controller that performs the role of the Operations
Master and manages user’s access to network resources.
Additional roles are: DNS, DHCP and Time Servers.
• A Proxy and Firewall Server using Microsoft Internet Security
and Acceleration Server 2004 that performs the role of an
Internet Gateway and manages users access to the Internet.
o Web Content Filtering was also deployed on this Server, which
protects against access to undesirable Websites and unwanted
downloads from the Internet.
• An Electronic Mail Server and Collaboration Server using
Microsoft Exchange 2003 Enterprise Server that manages “Internal
and Internet Mail” and teams of people working together on
documents across the network.
o Electronic Mail security is enforced rigidly on the Mail
Server against Viruses, SPAM and control of receiving and
sending File attachments.
• A File/Print Server that performs the role of the Ministry’s
central Repository for Electronic Files and also manages network
printers.
• A Database Server for all Relational Database Management
Systems (RDBMS). This Server is a Cluster of two Servers and
operates as a single unit.
• Acquired and deployed forty (40) multimedia computers.
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