Network Core

The Network Core is the network segment owned and managed by WaTech that is located at the State Data Center and WaTech's use of the Quincy Data Center.

The Network Core includes over 1,200 devices, carrier-class switching and routing equipment, primary transport circuits between the data centers and support infrastructure. The network core provides state government connectivity to corporate business partners.

The service availability objective is 99.99% for Network Core.

The Network Core is made up of the following components:

• Logical state networks: State Government Network (SGN), Intergovernmental Network (IGN), and Public Government Network (PGN).
• Internet.
• Routing isolation and aggregation.
• Wide Area Network (WAN) circuit aggregation.
• Monitoring and troubleshooting.
• End-of-row connectivity.

WaTech's Network Core is fully redundant within the State Data Center.

Features & Benefits

• Logical state networks (SGN, IGN, PGN)

  • SGN is the state of Washington's security boundary for its enterprise. It's a managed internal network that is built around internet technologies, security and standards (Washington State Securing Information Technology Assets Standards), which enables participating agencies to share mission-critical applications and data within the statewide private network.
  
  
  • IGN is a private network with known end points and tenants that provides Washington state counties and cities, federal agencies, tribes, health districts and other authorized customers secure access to managed gateways and applications owned by the state. This network allows application access and information sharing across all levels of government. The IGN has a physical network aggregation presence in all 39 Washington counties, select locations and governmental entities.
  
  
  • PGN provides secured and unsecured public access to online government web services through the internet. The PGN provides citizens access to individualized government services through portals and websites, improving service and cutting costs.
• Internet
  WaTech provides government customers with high speed, redundant, and secured internet access. This service includes IP addressing.


• Routing isolation and aggregation
  WaTech manages the network to ensure that connections are both securely "known and connected" to each other, where/how needed, as well as isolated from each other, where/how required, through the use of Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRFs) tables and Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs). VRFs allow network paths to be privately segmented (layer 3 isolation) via a routing table across multiple routing devices. VRFs enable flexible and scalable network designs to interconnect multiple customer Local Area Networks (LANs); also called Wide Area Network (WAN) aggregation. VLANs allow packet-level separation (layer 2).


• WAN circuit aggregation
  WaTech aggregates connections from various commercial providers-WaTech's State Metropolitan Optical Network (SMON), and campus fiber infrastructure-which are brought into the network core with seamless interconnectivity.


• Monitoring and troubleshooting
  At the highest level this consists of determining on a real-time and an ongoing basis the degree to which the network is performing as anticipated and managing any incidents or potential problems determined by monitoring tools or from user reports. The WaTech Network Operations Center (NOC) provides active monitoring of the Network Core and all customer connections that attach to the Network Core. Infrastructure deployed includes Cisco SmartNet and troubleshooting support for all Core and Provider Edge (PE) devices. The Network is monitored 24/7 and the operations center can quickly respond to issues as they arise with either onsite or remote technicians.


• End-of-row connectivity
  This provides network connectivity for the WaTech Colocation Service customers. The WaTech Colocation Service provides data center facilities to customers who wish to locate IT equipment they own and operate in a secure, professionally managed, state-of-the-art data center. WaTech's Colocation Service provides space, power, cooling, connectivity and physical and network security for the server, storage and networking equipment of WaTech customers.

Pricing

Network-allocated customers

In the 2015-2017 Biennial budget, the Legislature allocated WaTech's current customers with this intent:
"-The agency [WaTech] will take over responsibility from agencies for management of and connectivity to these networks, enabling it to more efficiently manage enterprise network resource needs. The full cost of the networks will be allocated..."

The majority of Washington state agencies were part of this network allocation. Incremental additions and subtractions of services do not result in additional or reduced billing for network-allocated customers. Excluded from network allocation is customer local area networks, wireless services, voice service, audio/video conferencing services and internal WaTech-network management tools and appliances.

To find out if your request is covered by the network allocation, email the WaTech Support Center or call 855-WaTech1 or 360.586.1000.

Network allocation guidelines
All WaTech Network Core equipment, services and support is included in the network allocation. The network allocation includes five VRF instances. Subscriptions that extend beyond the described threshold will require a network consultation and incur additional monthly recurring charges.

Non-allocated customers

Customers and/or services not covered by the network allocation are billed according to the schedules below.

Network Core is charged based upon two metrics: Network Core customer's port usage and internet access.

Network Core port usage is based on the number and type of ports used with WaTech's data centers.

Network Core - Port usage	Fee
10MB/100MB/1GB connection	$165 per port, per month
10GB connection	$1,300 per port, per month
Management interface	$35 per port, per month
One-time installation charge	$265 per port

Internet access is charged based on the number of full time employees (FTEs).

How to Order

Contact the WaTech Support Center to schedule an operational consultation.

• Submit a ticket through our Customer Portal.
• Phone: 360.586.1000 or 1.855.WaTech1 (1.855.928.3241)
• Email: support@watech.wa.gov

If you have questions or need assistance regarding a strategic consultation, please contact your agency Business Relationship Manager (BRM).

Pre-service requirements

• To obtain services from WaTech, eligible organizations must first enter into a Master Service Agreement (MSA). See if you qualify for an MSA.

Terms of Service (TOS):

Select the appropriate Terms of Service link below:

• Allocated customers--Shared Use Network Membership Terms of Service (TOS)
• Non-allocated customers--Non-Allocated Network Services Terms of Service (TOS)

Reference Material

Washington State Securing Information Technology Assets Standards

Service Forms & Documents

• Shared Use Network Membership Terms of Service (TOS)
• Non-Allocated Network Services Terms of Service (TOS)
• Service Action Plan