Service Description
The NITC Mainframe Platform as a Service includes a fully managed operating platform for mainframe-based applications. This fully-managed service includes systems engineering services, software tools, storage services, technology refresh, and disaster recovery.
What is Included
- Fully managed NITC Network Services and infrastructure
- Fully managed zOS™ operational environment
- Third party software tools, utilities, and support
- System security administration and support
- Capacity planning and performance tuning
- 24x7 system and network monitoring and support
- Fully managed disk and tape storage services
- Fully managed Disaster Recovery of the operating platform
- Application data recovery support
- Customer certification testing support
- Job scheduling and related monitoring
- Standard database administration activities
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Systems engineering and consulting services
- Install, configure, customize, and maintain the Operating System and system utilities
- Research, coordinate, and apply OS maintenance
- Management, analysis, and review of OS system audit logging
- Troubleshoot and resolve OS-related problems
- Disk and Tape storage administration
- Perform system tuning within the limits of NITC configuration standards
- Related inheritable management controls
How We Charge
Hosting charges are based on actual usage measurements.
Price drivers:
- Prime time and non-prime time CPU usage
- High, Normal, Medium, or Deferred Priority
- Amount of disk storage utilized
- Amount of tape storage utilized
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Additional charges may apply for
- Specialized software
- Database administration
- Application support
Service Level Metrics
| Measure | Service Level Targets |
|---|---|
| System Monitoring | 24 x 7 |
| Incident Response | 24 x 7 |
| System Availability |
99.9% or more excluding planned downtime* |
* NITC reserves the option to schedule routine infrastructure maintenance activities on Sundays between 1800 to 2400 hours Central Time.
NOTE: NITC utilizes the USDA Universal Telecommunication Network (UTN) for Wide Area Network services. The UTN is contractually guaranteed to be 99.9% available but has historically delivered over 99.99% availability.
Cost Saving Tips
- Adhere to the scheduled maintenance window
- Provide at least 180 days notice for growth or retraction of processing requirements
- Communicate project processing requirements on a quarterly basis
- Participate in scheduled disaster recovery testing
- Archive data only when necessary
- Delete any unnecessary data
- Utilize standard tools and applications
