GTA Update - Nov-Dec 2021

Update newsletter

Nov-Dec 2021 | Vol. 13, Issue 6

State CIO's column

Technology fuels quick response to needs that won't wait

The pandemic hasn’t produced much agreement on how governments ought to respond. But there is broad consensus in one area, and it hits close to home for state government IT organizations. State CIOs say technology will be leaned on more than ever before for answers.

This increased reliance on IT is expected to persist past the pandemic and become part of the way government operates. In survey results reported last month at NASCIO’s annual conference, CIOs’ take on the changed landscape for IT gave top billings to enduring telework, continued pressure to expand digital government services, and heightened cybersecurity defenses for both.

I’ll tell you, as a first-time participant in one of these National Association of State CIOs conferences, I felt an immediate kinship with other CIOs. State to state, our challenges have so much in common. What’s being asked of us all is daunting. But the opportunities are also rich for providing real benefits to our states and their citizens.

It doesn’t stop with new demands prompted by remote work, digital service delivery and cybersecurity. Add to that broadband service expansion, strong identity and access management, data privacy provision, and legacy system modernization. Rolled into those expansive undertakings are further challenges like facilitating movement into cloud computing environments and promoting efficiency in IT procurement.

None of these whoppers are foreign to us here in Georgia. We've made significant progress already on many fronts, and much more is in progress. Across agencies we’re collaborating to harness technology to help us achieve what’s asked of us. And recognizing we don’t have all the answers all the time, I’m happy to be in the NASCIO discussion circle to listen for and borrow ideas and tactics that have brought success in other states.

One more thing from the NASCIO annual conference in October: The Georgia Department of Labor identify verification project was announced as a winner in the 2021 NASCIO State IT Recognition awards. It was recognized in the category of business process innovations.

This ambitious project had GDOL integrating the ID.me identify verification software into their unemployment insurance benefits payments system in early fall 2020. It enhanced fraud detection and helped the department get relief more promptly to Georgians in need. I know you’ll join me in congratulating them on this award. Plus, our Georgia Broadband Map project also earned finalist status in NASCIO's data management and analytics category.

We're enabling more efficient and responsive government through technology. Thank you for your partnership.

Shawnzia Thomas

State Chief Information Officer

GTA Executive Director

Every month is cybersecurity awareness month

October may’ve been cybersecurity awareness month officially. But in actual practice, every month has to have a cybersecurity focus. There’s just no room for time off from our shared responsibility for safeguarding computer systems, networks and data.

In his cybersecurity awareness month proclamation, Governor Brian Kemp encouraged all Georgians to stop.think.connect, building on the national campaign promoting safety and security online. And of course, for those in state government, there’s a particular obligation to demonstrate only the most consistent discipline in cyber defense and security habits.

GTA’s Office of Information Security (OIS) marked cybersecurity awareness month with events to bolster defense capabilities. Its second annual Georgia Cyber Summit in late October brought together security professionals from federal and state government, as well as the private sector. They heard speakers from cloud service providers Google, Amazon and Microsoft, and from security services companies and government. Topics ranged from the current threat landscape and the hacker’s perspective, to the future of security technology.

Also in October, GTA joined with state and federal public safety entities and other participants in a response and recovery exercise built around a simulated cyber attack. This Georgia Jack Voltaic exercise allowed testing of cross-agency cybersecurity preparedness that would be called on were critical systems and infrastructure targeted by attackers. It promotes information sharing, coordinated response and partnerships essential to successful cyber defense. The Army Cyber Institute and the Georgia Cyber Center played key roles in putting on the exercise.

Earlier this fall GTA's OIS conducted its third annual hands-on cybersecurity training exercise, Cyber Dawg, at the state's Cyber Center in Augusta. State agency security professionals practiced their skills in a live-action scenario of defending against mock ransomware attacks. With the Georgia National Guard steering the exercise, some 60 professionals from 20 different organizations participated.

New members added to GTA's leadership team

In late September GTA welcomed Dmitry Kagansky as its Chief Cloud Officer. He comes to GTA from Amazon Web Services where for more than four years he worked with state agencies across the country, assisting them with cloud computing service implementations and migrations. Previously, Dmitry held technical and leadership roles at several software vendors and worked with a cloud-based unified communications company.

Keith Perry joined GTA this fall as its Chief Development Officer. He brings more than 25 years of Georgia state government IT experience to that new role at GTA, where he’ll work with application development teams.

Also, GTA is pleased to welcome Anh Le as General Counsel and Julie Fisher as Deputy General Counsel. Anh previously served as deputy general counsel at the Office of the Georgia Secretary of State. At GTA she will head sourcing, procurement and contracting teams, in addition to her legal duties. Julie has worked for the state of Georgia for more than 15 years, including serving as deputy general counsel in the Secretary of State's office.

Briefly ...

A new GETS self-service password reset tool is now available, providing an additional way to reset a forgotten GETS password or unlock an account. The tool is accessible via URL (provided to agency IT leads for relay) for staff who can access the GETS network. Pre-registration is required to use the tool. It is specifically for resetting a forgotten password or unlocking an account. Staff should continue to use current methods for routine password changes (e.g., resetting an expiring password).

Being able to spot phishing attempts and malicious emails has become an online survival skill. And when you do detect a suspicious email, it’s good practice to report it to your IT security teams for investigation and awareness. Agency staff in the GETS community now have an easy way to report suspected phishing, using the PhishAlarm button added to their Outlook email screen. Simply selecting an email and clicking PhishAlarm deletes the suspicious email from their inbox and notifies security teams.

GETS teams completed a 10-day disaster recovery exercise in early October 2021. They further developed these critical recovery capabilities, and helped ensure continued focus on DR in the GETS program. Five agencies participated, with system recovery time goals being met for all five. GETS server services provider Unisys was a key contributor, along with AT&T, Atos, Capgemini and GTA. Even with an expanded list of applications and servers tested, recovery times were trimmed. As is the goal each year, the 2021 exercise allowed teams to gauge remote recovery abilities and areas needing improvement.

People familiar with GTA’s Enterprise Portfolio Management Office may’ve been introduced through the EPMO’s project management courses and PM certification program. Others through the Critical Projects Review Panel it helps direct. Both the professional development and project assurance services offered by the EPMO are parts of a larger mission – promoting technology investment decisions that produce lasting benefits for Georgia agencies. The EPMO pursues that through IT project service contracts, consulting and investment management services, as well as IT portfolio reporting. Georgia government entities can learn more about this full range of services on the recently updated EPMO webpages on the GTA website.

After a year off in 2020, the GTA Charity Golf Tournament returned, marking its ninth annual edition on Monday, October 11 (Columbus Day holiday) at Stone Mountain Park. GTA and the tournament's title sponsor NTT DATA were pleased to welcome state agency staff and GETS service provider staff for a day on the golf course. Support from golfers and from tournament sponsors allowed raising nearly $22,000 (after expenses) for charities. GTA extends sincere thanks to all participants. The tournament once again benefited the State Charitable Contributions Program, which supports hundreds of charitable organizations across Georgia.