Jan-Feb, 2020 | Vol. 12, Issue 1
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Staying prepared for what's 'round the bend -- and the next one
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The fast-moving currents of technology change sweep us into a new year. Happy 2020 to you. To harness that flow and generate positive outcomes for Georgia, we in state government technology have to be ready. I'm happy to say that thanks to careful navigation and thoughtful planning, we're prepared for the challenges another year will bring.
Our "rowing" up to this point is central to shaping the trip from here forward. It's worth taking a look back over our shoulder at how, together, we've made Georgia government more accessible, responsive, accountable and secure.
Collaboration with state agencies throughout 2019 helped us launch the new Georgia GovHub, an enhanced digital platform that allows a uniform online experience for citizens. It is technology at work supporting Governor Kemp’s goal of streamlining government and making information and services accessible to all who need them.
Safeguarding the state’s information systems and data only grows as a priority. This past year the Governor mandated, and GTA helped deliver, cybersecurity awareness training for all employees in the state’s executive branch agencies. In related efforts, a Cyber Dawg security exercise saw IT professionals from multiple agencies assemble to practice their skills in real-world scenarios.
The state can claim considerable progress in 2019 on mapping statewide broadband availability and identifying areas lacking adequate broadband access. This provides a footing for future steps to close the technology gap between urban and rural areas. There’s little dispute about the role of high-speed internet access in a community’s growth and quality of life. This broadband work aligns with the Governor’s goal of strengthening rural Georgia.
And, the state's GETS shared IT services program last year enhanced and expanded offerings in key areas like managed cloud server services and cybersecurity defenses. These improvements came through ongoing efforts to match services to agencies' evolving business needs. Marking 10 years of operation last spring, GETS is credited with saving $379 million in state expense over that decade, more than twice the initial forecasts.
Maintaining the IT leadership position Georgia enjoys among state governments gets no easier. It requires we keep eyes on the future – looking around this bend
and
the next, and capitalizing on the currents. I’m pleased to be part of an extended team of technology professionals doing just that for our state. We welcome the year ahead.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Calvin Rhodes
State Chief Information Officer
GTA Executive Director
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Strengthening the weakest link in cybersecurity
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Enhancing server services affects more than IT staff
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Briefly … Showcase 2020, Ga. CIO Exchange, GovHub platform, Annual IT Report, Oklahoma visits
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What to do when the weakest link is ... you
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It’s not flattering – being told you’re the weakest link. But in cybersecurity, it’s just true. Human beings, even the cautious and careful, are the least effective line of defense out there. They’re always subject to attacks, and too often, the attackers hit their mark.
Georgia state and local governments have seen it. So have other states across the country. Ransomware and phishing attacks continue to challenge the very best efforts to safeguard information systems and data.
How do you fortify the human factor? One way is to train. That motivated Governor Kemp’s August 2019
Executive Order
mandating
cybersecurity awareness training
for employees in all Georgia executive branch agencies. September through December, those agencies mobilized for action, and the results are impressive: Nearly 75,000 state employees from more than 100 agencies were set up for online training. And by mid-December, better than nine out of 10 of those employees had successfully completed the required training. The balance will train soon.
It better equipped staff to avoid being tripped by tactics cyber criminals use in ransomware and phishing attacks. Those threats and others equally dangerous persist. So will the training. Additional segments (details to be announced) are envisioned for the year ahead. With oversight from the State Government Systems Cybersecurity Board, GTA will continue delivering the online training, which comes at no charge for executive branch agencies.
These efforts complement other measures to harden defenses with tools, system configurations and processes. All of it reflects a shared responsibility across ranks and organizations for protecting state systems and data
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Enhancements bring more of what agencies need in server services
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At first pass, server services might appear something only technical team members care about. Or understand. But late 2019 enhancements to the state’s GETS shared IT services program show there
are
exceptions. One of those comes in identity and access management services, a vague-sounding offering with very specific impact for technical team members and their non-technical colleagues.
In layperson’s terms, it's all about managing who has access to which computer systems and tools -- everything from the state’s computing network, to email, SharePoint, file storage locations, agency-specific applications and more. And if it still sounds like an IT-only concern, just imagine not being able to access your email. Suddenly you have a personal stake in identify and access management.
In December, GETS teams made key improvements to the way those access credentials (for email and much more) are handled. For one, they made things easier on many agency staff by giving them fewer passwords to worry about. A single password now works for computer sign-on
and
email sign-on. Working with GETS server services provider Unisys, they also introduced single sign-on to Office 365 email. That means for many team members, once signed on to their state computer, they can access their work email (and other tools like Skype For Business) without needing to provide a userID and password again.
These changes preserve a high standard for security, even while lightening the password load for system users. The work also enables new capabilities for agencies that want single sign-on for other applications they manage. Plus, agencies' technical administrators are now equipped with a new tool (Okta) for conducting access and identity administrative tasks.
Sliding deeper into the technical zone, GETS teams and Unisys have also improved server provisioning, trimming delivery times dramatically for physical, virtual and now cloud server options. That comes via a new rapid server provisioning process that puts needed servers in operation promptly for agencies that request them. Managed cloud server options newly available include Windows and Linux servers through Amazon Web Services and Azure.
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- Georgia state and local government entities, get ready to nominate your innovative IT projects for recognition via the 2020 edition of the Technology Innovation Showcase. The ninth annual showcase, sponsored by GTA, will soon open the gates for entries. Projects receiving top honors in last year's showcase ranged from system integration to mobile app deployment to improved data handling. Honorees included county and city governments, as well as state agencies. More than just an awards program, the showcase is intended to help those in Georgia government learn from what their peers are doing with technology-enabled projects. It encourages trading ideas on innovative uses of technology to deliver improved services to citizens. Watch the GTA website for a call for entries.
- CIOs have set the agenda for the next Georgia Government CIO Exchange meeting planned on January 31, 11 a.m. Their input shapes a session that will include discussion of cyber intel, fiber buildout, and small cell/5G network deployment. GTA organizes the bi-monthly sessions to encourage collaboration with local government CIOs from across the state. Previous meetings have generated exchange of ideas for improving IT services for the citizens served. Local government CIOs are invited to participate online or in person at GTA’s Atlanta offices at 47 Trinity Avenue. For details, email GTA’s Cameron Fash.
- The new Georgia GovHub digital platform continues to take shape as GTA's Digital Services Georgia team collaborates with agencies to bring new branding and consistency to their web presence. Importantly, the updates benefit people looking online for Georgia government services and information. They'll find a more streamlined and integrated picture, speeding them toward what they're looking for. Of the nearly 85 state websites hosted for agencies on the Georgia.gov web platform, many have now been updated. Remaining sites are expected to migrate by March 2020. The updates also ensure continued compliance with the latest accessibility, security, and performance standards.
- GTA will soon publish the Annual State IT Report highlighting the broad range of Georgia IT accomplishments in FY 2019. Expected themes include bolstered cybersecurity initiatives, promotion of broadband services in rural Georgia, progress on the new Georgia GovHub digital platform, enhancements to the state's GETS shared IT services program, and Georgia's continuing national recognition as a leader in state government IT. Watch the GTA website for announcement of the report's availability.
- A team of Oklahoma state government IT leaders visited Georgia in late fall for an in-person look at how we address cybersecurity for state information systems and data. GTA was pleased to host the Oklahoma delegation for tours of both the Georgia Cyber Center in Augusta and the state’s data center in Atlanta. Presentations and discussion keyed on tactics for defending against cyber threats, as well as other thorny technology issues faced by both Oklahoma and Georgia.
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