Impact of ICT Innovations at NG-CDF

match of ICT Innovations at NG-CDFThe Board acquired meshwork from two ISPs (internet service providers), Safaricom and Accesskenya, providing availability of steady-going redundant global connectivity. Connectivity therefore has allowed access to internal trunks such as email, ERP (Enterprise resource planning) and website at ease. Learning by dint of research on the internet has improved.The Local Area Network (LAN) and Wireless LAN has provided interconnectivity within the office. Resources squirt be sh ard among users and calculating machines with minimum movement of lag. Wireless LAN on the another(prenominal) hand has also encouraged BYOD (bring your avouch device) culture in the face and improve staff mobility.Recently the Board implemented MPLS (Multiprotocol mark off Switching) to regional offices providing access to internet and telephony services at a minimum cost. MPLS is a multipoint connectivity corpse that allows regions and HQ to communicate to each other like they are in maven office. The regional offices cannister now be reached by a tele earpiece extension.Connectivity through MPLS has also allowed the execution of sip tele call in services whereby a airplane pilot line is granted which in turn allows for configuration of 999 parallel lines hence direct lines.The firewall protects the organization from internal and external threats. These threats come in approach pattern of spam messages, phishing sites and viruses. Threats diffuse networks using services or ports that whitethorn be or may not be used in the organization.The firewall therefore assists in filtering let out those services that may allow threats into the network. In addition, internet bandwidth is a circumscribed resource and therefore motivating to be controlled, services that consume a lot of bandwidth are whence disabled so that users can cook a fair usage of internet without affecting their duties.The firewall also allows for schedule and QOS to pr ioritize certain services at a certain time.Kaspersky commutation Management allows the arranging administrator to monitor threats to the organization establishments in form of computer viruses. The central tweakment is an all in one entry where admins can perform certain tasks remotely from a server e.g. install, manage and license Kaspersky remotely, push updates remotely, manage devices, enable or disable e.g. USBTo check the server room CCTV is installed to monitor physical access and intrusion of unauthorised staff pieces thereby improving on data security and management.The CCTV system allows for live picture and playback options and to save/export a video for incoming reviewsThe Board has a registered domain name, cdf.go.ke and subsequently each staff member is assigned an email address.The email system, running on the latest meter reading is accessible 24/7 anywhere anytime through a computer or supported mobile devices.Guidelines and manuals to access the mail porta l shake up been developed by the department to help staff members adapt to the system easily.The Board has installed Spiceworks helpdesk system which is an open source helpdesk system that allows the department to consent a bona fide support ticket-tracking system and generate reports of the said(prenominal) to gauge their performance.Users raise tickets by email, telephone call or through the Spiceworks portal, the ICT department then are able to view and prioritize them accordingly. erst the case is solved, the ticket is closed.The bulk SMS system is web based system which the Board uses to disseminate important info through short messages to staff members within the shortest time possible.Within the system, targeted groups and individual contacts maintain been preloaded to the system these groups are All faculty, FAMs, directors, HQ Staff etc.The board has seen improvement in communicating matters relating to the board or staff on time without the need for lengthy and slow means of communication this has improved the accuracy of the learning passed and avoided speculations on sensitive Board matters.The system provides data to the Boards customers using USSD (Unstructured subsidiary Service Data) is a Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication engineering science that is used to s hold back text amid a mobile phone and an application program in the network.Information available is allocations and disbursements for each constituency from FY 2013/2014 to date. The USSD is structured to the bulk sms system so that results can be sent to the end user.The user queries by dialing *483*6 from their mobile phone, then select the constituency by a quick search, they will then choose whether they need allocations or disbursement data. Once confirmed, the results are then sent through SMS to the users phone via the bulk sms system implemented by the board.100% of individual offices have been connected by a telephone extension, 70% of staff have an exte nsion on their desks.The Board maintains a PBX which interconnects these extensions and the regional office extensions. Staff can communicate within offices on 10th traumatize, 5th floor and regional offices conveniently and for free.Trunk calls (external calls) can also be make and received by the board via providers like Orange Telkom and Safaricom. Orange provides the landlines time Safaricom provides a SIP line which emulates a mobile number with railyard lines which can then be configured as direct lines. The SIP trunk therefore allows for multiple calls to be made without engaging or congesting the lines.A unique number is assigned, for the Board, this is 0709894, and the last 3 digits have then been assigned to a specific extension Number for example 0709894000 is configured on the extension at the reception as a pilot line, any other extension has also an incoming route creating a direct line scenario.Web portals are websites that maintain personalized information in a da tabase in the background. Unlike any website, portals allow let users access to specific information meant for them specifically. They are even allowed to customize information they want to be displayed in their portal (space).The Boards web portal is integrate portal in that, the fund account managers can create their own websites within the portal by logging in to the system. The public can therefore access information on any constituency from one website www.ngcdf.go.ke by a click of a button.CDFMIS stores, organizes and makes access to switch and fiscal information easy. It not only stores all the information relating to incumbent and past age projects, but also stores the approved budgets for these years, details on inflows and outflows of funds.The CDFMIS Projects database is composed of quartet different functional aspects, each corresponding to a set of tasks the constituency must carry out as a part of its mission, these include project Information, bursaries Informa tion, budget and Finance Information and Complaints Information.Data and Applications Software are stored in servers at the computer center located at CDF Headquarters in Nairobi. Operations data are entered at the various user locations at the Constituencies and Head office.Interconnectivity of the system is through Wide Area Network between the constituencies and the Servers and through Local Area Network between the Servers and Head percentage workstations.CDFMIS is operated the basis of on-line real-time that is to say that updates occur immediately a transaction is completed thus making information as current as the last transaction.Access to the system will be make via the internet/intranet through use of a web browser (Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, etc.). peculiar user-names and passwords are given by System Administrator.Microsoft Dynamics SL is a financial/accounting system used by the Boards Finance and Accounts Department.Microsoft Dynamics SL is one of Microsoft s enterprise resource planning (ERP) software intersection points for project-driven small- and medium-sized enterprises. It is part of the Microsoft Dynamics product family.The functionality includes finance, project accounting, manufacturing, field services, supply chain management, analytics, and electronic commerce.The major module used by the Board is the finance module.