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Latest outsourcing trend sweeps into government space
Up and down the Dulles corridor in Northern Virginia, numerous unmarked, warehouse-type buildings are nestled among hotels, office parks and fast-food restaurants. In the past, such a sight in the Washington area would have signaled a classified government office. But today, it's just as likely to be one of the many commercially owned buildings where government networks are maintained.
Known variously as cybercenters, data centers and even Internet service centers, these facilities promise to help budget- and labor-strained agencies save money by outsourcing expensive information technology operations to thirdparty specialists.
Outsourcing some data processing work has been around for years, but what's different now are the wide variety of IT companies getting into the game and the range of work customers are willing to farm out.
In the last six months, PC manufacturer Micron Electronics Inc., chipmaker Intel Corp. and networking provider Qwest Communications International Inc. - to name just a few - have built large data centers.
"With the shortage of IT workers, everyone is having a hard time finding qualified people. [Data centers] allow [agencies] to concentrate on their core values, not on trying to provide computer services," said Rob Karmele, marketing director of Internet services for Intel, which is opening an Internet service center in Chantilly, Va., this month.
Basically large buildings filled with...