Sep-Oct 2023 | Vol. 15, Issue 5 |
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A dose of IT inspiration –
just what the doctor ordered
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You hear about teachers inspired by their students. Doctors inspired by patients. A commander inspired by the troops. Granted, we're not in those lines of work. But we in state government and IT could use some inspiration of our own.
An event this fall might just give you some new zip. (No, not Dragon Con. Think fewer costumes, and likely no Star Trek cast members.) The annual Georgia Digital Government Summit, coming up October 3, can inspire us with the latest innovative uses of technology to power effective government. IT industry experts, as well as your colleagues in Georgia government, will be discussing just that. Join us at the Marriott Marquis in Atlanta for the day, and be part of the energy.
For starters, you can expect a couple of insightful keynote speakers. Two-time Paralympian John Register will offer his powerful take on hurdling adversity and turning it to advantage. And veteran innovation and technology strategist Jack Shaw will bring digital transformation in government to life, anticipating where it may yet take us.
Twice during the day's activities, concurrent sessions will give you options to explore topics ranging from AI to technology workforce, cloud transformation to data sharing. Sessions will also be presented on broadband and digital equity, citizen-centric services, and cyber incident defense and response planning.
Networking opportunities will be emphasized throughout the day. Plus, we'll recognize this year's honorees in the GTA-sponsored Technology Innovation Showcase. In addition to giving well-deserved recognition to the agency teams leading innovative IT-enabled projects, the Showcase is an opportunity to learn from (and maybe borrow ideas from) your peers. Modeling from somebody else's achievements – that can inspire confidence, and your own successes.
So mark your calendars for the Georgia Digital Government Summit, and get registered via the link here. There's no cost to attend for Georgia's public sector employees. And it's well worth your time. It's a chance to explore the latest options for harnessing technology’s potential to meet business needs. A chance to learn from your colleagues, and discuss common challenges. And importantly, a chance to find new inspiration for the important work we do to serve Georgians. I hope to see you there.
Shawnzia Thomas
State Chief Information Officer
GTA Executive Director
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Cyber Dawg has real teeth, and that's the point |
GTA partners with technical colleges for cloud training |
5-year plan for extending broadband service across Ga. |
Briefly … Data center, 2 Peachtree, GTA Charity golf |
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A mock security exercise so real, it'll make you clench your teeth |
Later this month, GTA’s Office of Information Security will unleash a beast (so to speak), and then give cybersecurity team members a shot at keeping it contained.
It happens at the annual GTA-hosted, hands-on cyber security training exercise, Cyber Dawg. Staged in partnership with the Georgia Cyber Center and the Georgia Army National Guard, the event brings together cyber security professionals from state and local government and education entities to hone their skills in a “live fire” exercise. And yes, it involves a mock attack, but the tension and the sweat – well, those can't be faked.
Using a military-styled training strategy, Cyber Dawg pits teams of cyber defenders against a threat actor in a fabricated cyber-attack. The Guard's Cyber Protection Team wages the “attack.” It unfolds in the safety of the Cyber Center’s Cyber Range. Still, the pressures, defense tools and tactics are all the real deal.
This fifth annual Cyber Dawg is scheduled for September 18-22 at the Cyber Center in Augusta. Agency participants gain the closest thing to real-world experience, shy of actually being targeted. They then take invaluable insights back to their organizations to strengthen cyber defenses. Georgia government entities interested in sending additional participants to the event should email GTA's Office of Information Security.
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Top of the class is place to be
when cloud is the subject
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State agency IT professionals are enrolled in two cloud-related training courses this fall at Gwinnett Technical College. They're looking to excel in class, to help their respective agencies excel in the cloud.
These courses are the latest offered via a partnership between GTA and the Technical College System of Georgia. The GTA/TCSG program helps support state agencies as they shift operations into cloud computing and away from on-premises servers.
The fall courses focus on system operations (SysOps) and developer skills for Amazon Web Services (AWS), one of the cloud platforms agencies are pursuing. The program debuted in spring 2023 with an inaugural AWS SysOps class. GTA covers tuition costs, as well as cost of a corresponding professional certification exam for students who opt to take it.
Additional courses may be added in the months ahead. For information about the GTA/TCSG program, email GTA's Deborah Sykes.
GTA presents varied cloud training options for agency IT staff. It's a key part of the GTA-led cloud-first campaign aimed at moving agency applications into modern, flexible cloud settings. Self-guided and virtual instructor-led training options are also available, as well as twice-monthly GTA-hosted lunch ‘n’ learns on technical cloud topics.
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5-year plan for broadband illustrates scale of the task |
Georgia's action plan spells out its approach to expanding service and to ensuring Georgians have the tools and skills to make the most of broadband access. It establishes the current state of broadband and digital connectivity (equity) in Georgia. It identifies obstacles to be overcome. And, it lays out an implementation plan aimed at securing broadband service by the end of 2028 for all remaining unserved and underserved locations in Georgia.
BEAD funds are expected to significantly bolster expansion efforts in Georgia communities growing from earlier grants awarded through the state’s Capital Projects Fund Grant Program. In June, $15M in grants toward expansion projects in four largely rural Georgia counties were announced by Governor Brian Kemp’s office. That came on the heels of $234M in grants earlier in 2023 for service expansion in 28 counties. Taken all together, they stand to bring reliable new broadband service to tens of thousands of locations in Georgia.
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As agencies increasingly adopt cloud, Georgia’s on-premises computing footprint is shrinking. That has GTA leading a data center space optimization and upgrade project for the state’s leased space at the North Atlanta Data Center (NADC). The goal is to consolidate in 2024 into a markedly trimmed 6,000 square-foot grid. A new floorplan will be put in place, along with an updated power supply design to serve remaining on-premises computing needs. With a target of January 2024 for agencies to have their NADC-based systems migrated to cloud, GTA is collaborating with those agencies to clear a path for the space optimization. (On-premises service would continue only in cases where a GTA-approved exception has been secured.) Microsoft Cloud migrations, for example, are ongoing, and build on earlier transitions to Amazon Web Services cloud. The state's mainframe will also shift to AWS cloud.
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What's your favorite 2 Peachtree story? Feeling the building sway in the wind? The street life just outside the doors at Five Points? The parking garage across Peachtree Street? They're all destined to become fabled now, as agencies formerly at that address have relocated to other offices. No small task given the sizable presence state health agencies, along with a few others, had at 2 Peachtree. One hurdle – moving network and computing hardware and services. GTA thanks the affected agencies, as well as service providers AT&T, Capgemini and Unisys, for their collaboration in getting that work done on schedule.
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The 11th annual GTA Charity Golf Tournament is set for Monday, October 9 (Columbus Day holiday), at Stone Mountain Park. GTA is pleased to announce this chance for state agency staff to join with service provider staff on the golf course, raising funds for the State Charitable Contributions Program (SCCP). You can register a team, or sign up individually and be teamed with some new golfing partners. Proceeds will benefit the SCCP, which supports hundreds of charitable organizations providing services across Georgia.
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