Minnesota plans to consolidate more than 36 data centers throughout the state into four or fewer over the next five years. The state is just the latest among many to seek to reduce costs and streamline operations through consolidation, reports InformationWeek's Elizabeth Montalbano. At the same time, Minnesota hopes to improve IT security and reduce the risk of data breaches.

A study in 2008 showed that none of Minnesota's data centers met industry standards and that many of the centers presented a high risk for data failure. The first step in the consolidation process includes moving the most vital systems into a third-party data center, and Minnesota is seeking proposals for a service that meets security requirements.  The remainder of the systems will then be moved to updated data centers.

The consolidation plan comes closely on the heels of an initiative that is transferring approximately 35,000 employees in the executive branch to Microsoft's (NASDAQ: MSFT) Business Productivity Online Suite, which includes web-based email and other Internet-based services. The big changes come as the state's CIO, Gopal Khanna, prepares to leave his job in December.

For more:
- see Elizabeth Montalbano's article at InformationWeek

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