[NPR] LA overhauling Email system to Gmail - Overclock.net

**KarmaKiller** · 3 Weeks Ago

Quote:

The City of Los Angeles has voted to overhaul its e-mail system, converting it all to Gmail. Some say it's a victory for Google, which is trying to replace Microsoft applications in government cubicles everywhere. But some in L.A. are concerned about storing public data on Web-based servers.
L.A. will spend more than $7 million to switch to Gmail, making it the first city in the country to convert its entire e-mail system to Google software. The District of Columbia uses Gmail on a limited basis. But being a pioneer can be nerve-racking.

Source

The first of many??

Bleached · 3 Weeks Ago

World Domination!

Atomagenesis · 3 Weeks Ago

This really is a bad idea if you ask me. Enterprise servers with Exchange are always a better solution cause you can still have email when the interwebz go down.

trueg50 · 3 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by KarmaKiller

Source

The first of many??

Not at all, just the first to take them up on their offer.

Many colleges and cities have been offered by Google to take over. It is a little cheaper perhaps, and the TCO is likely lower, but at the places I have been, security has been placed above the cost as the most important item.

The other important issue is the CIA (Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability) triad of security. Confidentiality in this case is some what iffy, since you don't control anything, you don't know if google employees are having a look-see into what your doing. this is much the same for integrity, but that is not as likely. Availability is by far the biggest problem, if the internet pipe for LA's offices has any kind of issue, the all of E-mail is down, rather then have just the internal e-mail work. For the college I go to that was discussing Gmail, this was one of the other points that caused us to vote no for google.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atomagenesis

This really is a bad idea if you ask me. Enterprise servers with Exchange are always a better solution cause you can still have email when the interwebz go down.

The administration and licensing costs are a little bit less, however Microsoft has been very generous on reduced cost options, reducing licensing costs.

KamuiRSX · 3 Weeks Ago

OMG is all I can say....are they insane...

guyladouche · 3 Weeks Ago

My previous school migrated to gmail--which was a god send given the awful email system they had.

I'm also curious about the storing of private or sensitive data on a public domain. I don't think it's a good idea. You'd think for $7m, they could create a much more secure and isolated email system.

wirehead · 3 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by trueg50

Not at all, just the first to take them up on their offer.

Many colleges and cities have been offered by Google to take over. It is a little cheaper perhaps, and the TCO is likely lower, but at the places I have been, security has been placed above the cost as the most important item.

The other important issue is the CIA (Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability) triad of security. Confidentiality in this case is some what iffy, since you don't control anything, you don't know if google employees are having a look-see into what your doing. this is much the same for integrity, but that is not as likely. Availability is by far the biggest problem, if the internet pipe for LA's offices has any kind of issue, the all of E-mail is down, rather then have just the internal e-mail work. For the college I go to that was discussing Gmail, this was one of the other points that caused us to vote no for google.

The administration and licensing costs are a little bit less, however Microsoft has been very generous on reduced cost options, reducing licensing costs.

If this is the case, then I don't see any problem in this switch.
Good explanation here..

*VulcanDragon* · 3 Weeks Ago

Quote:

But some in L.A. are concerned about storing public data on Web-based servers.

This. I work in govt and would love to save money too, but this is a little crazy. E-mails of govt employees that pertain to the business of govt are public records. Protecting them is critical, not optional, and not subject to excuses. Not that Google can't protect the data to the level required by law, and they may be able to do it better than LA's own IT staff if they don't have competent workers. But LA is still responsible for all aspects of that data, and they really have no way of knowing for sure, except what Google tells them.

Mako · 3 Weeks Ago

The university in town is switching to GMail as well. Florida Institude of Technology.

Someone mentioned that Exchange servers are better, but my main complaint about Exchange servers is Microsoft. Everything is proprietary (MAPI/RPC) and to use the functionality you must use Microsoft sofware. Not to mention that you have to use Windows Server...

Also, with more and more people working offsite, the Intranet goes out more frequently than the Internet, so it makes sense to go with external hosting.

I understand that security is a concern but apparently for those making the switch, they are more concerned with Accessibility and Functionality than Security.

T3h_Ch33z_Muncha · 3 Weeks Ago

Will google take over the world? I certainly hope so!

		Overclock.net - Overclocking.net > Industry News > Software News
[NPR] LA overhauling Email system to Gmail

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)