Software Standards Policy

Overview

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to address all issues relevant to software standards on Escambia County BCC's computer systems.

Authority

This policy has full support from the Escambia County BCC executive steering committee and human resources department.

The Director of Information Technology administers this policy. This policy is currently effective for all Escambia County BCC employees and computer systems.

Continuance

This policy is a living document and may be modified at any time by the Director, Information Technology, or the executive steering committee.

Software Standard

Mission

Escambia County BCC’s IT objective is to enable its employees to perform their tasks with technology that is in good operating condition while appropriately addressing business needs.

Dilemma

Historically, we have not consistently addressed software standards on Escambia County BCC’s computer systems. This lack of a standard policy has adversely affected the IT mission at times. This policy will set software standards to better enable the IT department to achieve its objective of delivering stable, well-performing technology solutions.

Installation and support of Escambia County BCC software

Escambia County BCC's IT department is exclusively responsible for installing and supporting all software on company computers. These responsibilities include:

• Office desktop computers
• County laptop computers
• Computer lab public desktop computers
• Telecommuter home computers that are provided by the County

Escambia County BCC's IT department relies on installation and support to provide software and hardware in good operating condition to Escambia County BCC employees so that they can best accomplish their tasks.

Current software

Escambia County BCC's IT department, in coordination with all other departments, has decided upon the following software standards:

Unix operating systems

• AIX

Desktop operating system

• Microsoft Windows 2000 / XP with critical updates, shutdown supplement

Productivity tools package

• Microsoft Office
  • Word
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Access (Professional Edition users only – single user instances)
  • Outlook 2000/2003
• Corporate Time

Database software

• Oracle
• IBM Informix
• Microsoft SQL
• ODBC - OpenLink

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software

• ESRI ArcGIS - ArcInfo (base map maintenance)
• ESRI ArcGIS - ArcView (analysis)
• ESRI ArcIMS (web distribution)
• ESRI ArcSDE (spatial database)
• ESRI ArcExplorer / ArcReader (web viewing)

Financial software

• SunGard Pentamation Financial System (managed by Clerk of Circuit Court)

Permitting System

• SunGard Pentamation Encompass
• Accela Land Management System

Human Resources software

• Kronos Human Resources
• BNA HR Library client software

Internet software

• Microsoft Internet Explorder
• RealNetworks Player (video streaming)
• Macromedia Dreamweaver (web page creation)

Electronic Document Management System

• Opentext Livelink
• Adobe Messenger (scanning station)

Time Keeping

• Kronos

Construction Management

• Primavera Expedition

CAD

• AutoCAD
• AutoCAD Land Desktop

Work Order Management

• InforEAM (Facilities Management)
• Altiris HelpDesk
• Track It (IR)

Accessories

• PKZip
• Adobe Acrobat
• PaintShop Pro
• Symantec AntiVirus
• Microsoft Visio
• Pagemaker
• AlphaPage (paging system)

The current software can exist in any one of the following scenarios:

• An IT-created “image” or OEM installation on the hardware
• An IT department installation procedure that provides for the following:
  • Installation options
  • Upgrade considerations (if applicable)
  • Data conversion (if applicable)
• A shortcut to a network application (not truly an installation)
• An automated installation through an IT-developed solution that may be used in a rapid-deployment scenario or silent-install situation
• A terminal application, Citrix application, or other thin-client type of application accessible via the Escambia County intranet page

Software cannot be present on Escambia County BCC's computers in the following scenarios:

• An installation not by a procedure
• A piece of software purchased for one’s home computer
• A downloaded title from the Internet
• A pirated copy of any title
• A different title from the current software list of this policy
• Any means not covered by the ways that software can exist on company computers

Software licensing

Most of the software titles on Escambia County BCC’s current software list are not freeware; therefore, the cost of software is a consideration for most titles and their deployment.

It is the goal of the IT department to keep licensing accurate and up to date. To address this, the IT department is responsible for purchasing software licenses for the following software categories:

• Desktop operating system software
• Productivity tools package
• Internet software
• Accessories

The other software categories (workgroup-specific titles) are the purchasing responsibility of the workgroup in which they serve. However, the application(s) are still installed and supported by the IT department.

To control costs, licensing costs are a factor in the decision-making processes that go into client software planning and request approval.

Software requests

If a user is to request software for a computer, the proper procedure is to complete the Escambia County IR’s support request on the intranet at: at http://home.escambia/050799-1.pdf . This form is also available by following the IT links on Escambia County’s intranet home page, which is the start page of all Escambia County BCC Web browsers.

The intranet site also offers a means by which to suggest additions to the current software set for Escambia County, and it contains a form for requesting new software for your machine. This form submits a request into the IT support database. An e-mail response is guaranteed within one business day. If the Urgent option is selected or an in-person appearance occurs, a solution may be delivered at the earliest possible time. All in-person or “walk-in” requests are logged by a manual entry into the support request system to track licensing needs and costs.

Summary

Escambia County BCC’s software installation policy

This policy is designed to let Escambia County BCC employees achieve their business objectives. Any aberrations from this strategy will require the IT department to redeploy software and/or hardware solutions. Full cooperation with this policy is appreciated so that all goals can be met in accordance with the business objectives.