IRS audited on its poor use of storage arrays
The Internal Revenue Service uses less than half of its midline storage and could unnecessarily buy new storage arrays due to lack of adequate planning, an agency audit has found.
'Our review indicates midrange computer [storage area networks] are not effectively managed to ensure efficient utilization of storage resources,' the audit team concluded in its report.
The survey team found that only 35.5 percent of the agency's storage space was being used. Moreover, many of the stored files were duplicates. Better use of existing resources might save the agency about $9.9 million in additional purchases, the audit team estimated.
In order to help offices better manage storage, the agency's Distributed Systems Management Branch is establishing a SAN Development Laboratory to assess storage management tools, according to the report.
To read the audit, go to
www.gcn.com and enter 475 in the GCN.com/box.
About the Author
Joab Jackson is the senior technology editor for Government Computer News.