NASCIO Releases Value and Vulnerability: The Internet of Things in a Connected State Government

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The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) today released a policy brief on the Internet of Things (IoT) in state government. The paper focuses on the different ways state governments are using IoT now and in the future and the policy considerations involved.

“In NASCIO’s 2015 State CIO Survey, we asked state CIOs to what extent IoT was on their agenda. Just over half said they were in informal discussions, however only one in five had moved to the formal discussion phase. We believe IoT needs to be a formal part of each state’s policy considerations,” explained NASCIO Executive Director Doug Robinson.

The paper encourages state CIOs to make IoT part of the enterprise architecture discussions on asset management and risk assessment and to develop an IoT roadmap.

“Cities and municipalities have been working toward the designation of ‘smart city’ for a while now,” said Darryl Ackley, cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Department of Information Technology and NASCIO president. “While states provide different services than cities, we are seeing a lot of activity around IoT to improve citizen services and we see great potential for growth. The more organized and methodical states can be about implementing IoT, the more successful and useful the outcomes.”

Read the policy brief at www.NASCIO.org/ValueAndVulnerability 

State Chief Information Officer Ron Baldwin, State of Montana, Profiled in NASCIO State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign

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State Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Executive Director of the Department of Administration State of Montana Information Technology Services Division (SITSD) Ron Baldwin is making a difference for Montana’s economy by ensuring the state is responsive to the needs of small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Over the next two weeks, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers will feature the work and accomplishments of Baldwin and SITSD in the State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign. Montana’s profile will specifically highlight SITSD’s role in developing the Montana Business Navigator, an online one-stop shop for small businesses and entrepreneurs interested in starting in or relocating to the state. The Navigator is part of the Main Street Montana project, a dynamic private-public partnership established to build and implement a business plan for Montana by Montanans.

“I have always been a firm believer that business drives technology. We are here to enable businesses, and their needs drive information technology,” said Ron Baldwin, chief information officer for the state of Montana.

To learn more about Baldwin and the work of SITSD, see the information sheet. Visit the campaign website at www.NASCIO.org/CIOsMakeaDifference and follow #StateCIOsRock for campaign highlights and updates.

NASCIO Vice President, Connecticut Chief Information Officer Mark Raymond Testifies on Cybersecurity before House Homeland Security Committee

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Today NASCIO Vice President and Connecticut Chief Information Officer (CIO), Mark Raymond, testified before the House Homeland Security Committee in a joint hearing of the cybersecurity, infrastructure protection, and security technologies subcommittee and the emergency preparedness, response, and communications subcommittee at their hearing, “Enhancing Preparedness and Response Capabilities to Address Cyber Threats.”

“It is incredibly important to share the state CIO perspective on cybersecurity and emergency management with federal lawmakers. This hearing has been a great opportunity to raise awareness around cybersecurity and states’ ability to respond to and recover from disasters and cyber disruption,” Raymond said about the value of the hearing. Further, Raymond stated that “state CIOs are committed to securing state networks, protecting the digital business of state government, and coordinating with diverse stakeholders to ensure government continuity in times of disaster.”

In his testimony, Raymond highlighted several federal cybersecurity programs in which states are taking part. He also stressed the importance of federal partnership and urged lawmakers to consider the impact of disparate security regulations with which state governments must comply.

To read the full testimony of Raymond, click here.

To watch a recording of the full hearing, click here.

NASCIO Members and Conference Attendees Give Back to Baltimore, Host City of the 2016 Midyear Conference

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Total donation of $7,128 provided to local Baltimore organization

State, associate, and corporate members of the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) donated $4,128 to the Digital Harbor Foundation (DHF) this May. Funds for the local organization were raised leading up to and during NASCIO’s 2016 Midyear Conference held in Baltimore. In addition to funds raised, NASCIO contributed $3,000 – providing a grand total donation of $7,128 to the local organization as part of NASCIO’s Give Back program.

Donations made through the NASCIO Give Back program will support Maker Foundations, a 14-week exploratory course of the Digital Harbor Foundation for middle and high school youth that provides exposure to emerging technologies such as 3D printing, interactive electronics and game design. The course culminates with each participant creating a technology project that incorporates the newly mastered technologies.

“In an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to create with technology is an essential skill for youth to have,” said Shawn Grimes, executive director of the Digital Harbor Foundation. “But, more than teaching any one skill, in DHF programs youth learn how to learn, to iterate, and not to be afraid of failure. These skills and traits will follow youth in their careers, personal lives and wherever their futures take them.”

“DHF’s pay-what-you-can model for our youth programs lies at the core of our values – to be open for any young person who wants to join in,” said Ruth Eldredge Thomas, director of foundation and corporate relations at DHF. “NASCIO’s generous donation will help ensure Baltimore youth have access to Maker Foundations and our advanced courses, no matter their background, previous experience or family income. In addition, the opportunity to engage with technology leaders from across the country inspired the kids’ vision of the kinds of contributions they are already making to the tech world at large, and the sort of potential they have for the future. They are the best evidence we can offer of the impact a program like this can have.”

To learn more about the Digital Harbor Foundation, visit www.digitalharbor.org.

State Chief Information Officer and Executive Director Jason Allison, Florida Agency for State Technology, Profiled in NASCIO State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign

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State Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Executive Director of the Agency for State Technology Jason Allison is making a difference in the lives of Floridians by focusing on best practices, quality and service.

Over the next two weeks, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers will feature the work and accomplishments of Allison and the Florida Agency for State Technology (AST) in the State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign. Allison and AST’s profile will specifically highlight the agency’s impact since its establishment two years ago, and the core principles that guide the agency’s work.

“Our priorities first and foremost are to meet the customer agency’s needs,” said Allison. “Our job is to be there to support them every step of the way. Technology is there to support the business; their successes are our successes.” 

To learn more about Allison and the work of AST, see the information sheet. Visit the campaign website at www.NASCIO.org/CIOsMakeaDifference and follow #StateCIOsRock for campaign highlights and updates.

NASCIO Launches State CIOs Make a Difference Campaign

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The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has launched the 2016 State CIOs Make a Difference campaign. The campaign, which will run through mid-August, emphasizes the important role CIOs hold in government operations and the innovative and strategic work they lead.

“State government runs on IT,” said Doug Robinson, executive director of NASCIO, “and CIOs are there envisioning, executing and leading the way. From critical infrastructure projects to business transformation and developing more user-friendly ways for citizens to interact with government, CIOs are making a difference every day.”

Six states – Florida, Montana, Ohio, Michigan, Delaware and Washington – will be featured in the campaign, each for a two-week period. Videos, narratives and facts specific to each state will be shared at www.nascio.org/CIOs; new content will be added throughout the two-week period. Follow #StateCIOsRock on Twitter and Facebook for campaign updates.

Campaign Schedule:

May 16-27                  Florida
May 30-June 10         Montana
June 13-24                  Ohio
June 27-July 8            Michigan
July 11-22                     Delaware
July 25-August 5       Washington

State CIOs Advocate for Strong Federal-State Partnership to Tackle Cybersecurity

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Today NASCIO members engaged with strategic partners, representatives from Capitol Hill, federal officials from U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and FirstNet to emphasize the need for strong partnership between federal and state governments. More than 30 state CIOs and state technology policy officials participated in NASCIO’s 2016 Fly-In, where they had the opportunity to advocate for NASCIO’s 2016 advocacy priorities.

Cybersecurity was a recurring theme at the NASCIO Fly-In where state CIOs discussed the need for a strong federal-state partnership in defending government networks. DHS’s Assistant Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications, Dr. Andy Ozment spoke to federal cybersecurity resources available to state governments on how state CIOs can take advantage of those offerings. State CIOs also received a DHS briefing focused on lessons learned from the attack against Ukrainian power infrastructure in December 2015.

“Cybersecurity has been a top priority for NASCIO for the past several years.  We are glad to see that DHS and others are willing and eager to partner with us as we continue to address cybersecurity from a multitude of angles,” said Darryl Ackley, cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Department of Information Technology and NASCIO president.

Additionally, as part of NASCIO’s advocacy effort to find flexibility in federal regulations that impact state IT, state CIOs also discussed IRS Publication 1075 with IRS Office of Safeguards Senior Technical Advisor Steve Matteson. IRS Publication 1075 governs the use, inspection, and disclosure of federal tax information commonly utilized by state governments. Rules contained within the publication have sometimes been a hurdle for state CIOs seeking enterprise consolidation and optimization. NASCIO is expected to engage on a more regular basis with IRS Office of Safeguards on the future of IRS Publication 1075.

NASCIO’s annual D.C. Fly-In convenes state CIOs and NASCIO’s federal and strategic partners for a day of advocacy and discussion related to current government affairs priorities: cybersecurity, FirstNet, flexibility in federal regulations impacting state IT and information sharing. It also serves as an opportunity for state CIOs to establish and strengthen key relationships with federal decision-makers.

NASCIO Hosts Youth from Baltimore’s Digital Harbor Foundation at Midyear Conference

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Youth participating in Maker Foundations, a program of the Digital Harbor Foundation (DHF), were on site at the NASCIO 2016 Midyear Conference to showcase technology projects created during the course. Maker Foundations is a 14-week exploratory course for middle and high school youth that provides exposure to emerging technologies such as 3D printing, interactive electronics and game design. The course culminates with each participant creating a technology project that incorporates the newly mastered technologies. 

In addition to visiting with youth about the projects, NASCIO members provided monetary support for the program through NASCIO Give Back, a program created to show appreciation to the community hosting the NASCIO conference.  Donations will be collected online at www.nascio.org/midyeargiveback and on site during the conference. A suggested donation of $35 will provide a week of instructional time for one student; DHF operates Maker Foundations on a pay-what-you-can model. 

The Digital Harbor Foundation is a nonprofit youth makerspace and technology outlet dedicated to fostering education, entrepreneurship and technology advancement, especially for underserved youth in inner-city Baltimore. DHF aims youth toward interests and skills that build new pathways to technology and engineering careers, especially those who lack a support structure – in supplies, mentorship, or community – to find creative technology opportunities on their own. Learn more at www.digitalharbor.org.

NASCIO Technology Champion Award Presented to Ann Barron-DiCamillo

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The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has awarded Ann Barron-DiCamillo, former director of US-CERT, with the association’s 2016 NASCIO Technology Champion award. Barron-DiCamillo was presented the award at the 2016 NASCIO Midyear Conference in Baltimore, Md. for her leadership in advancing information technology as an effective tool for government.

“We are pleased to present the 2016 NASCIO Technology Champion award to Ms. Barron-DiCamillo,” said Darryl Ackley, cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Department of Information Technology and NASCIO president. “Her work with US-CERT embodies the core principles of the award; supporting and promoting the fundamental role IT can play in efficient and effective government operations.”

Under Barron-DiCamillo’s leadership, the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) within the Department of Homeland Security worked to strengthen the nation’s cybersecurity environment through transparency and information sharing. NASCIO supports Barron-DiCamillo’s belief that one person’s detection is another’s prevention and that collaboration is paramount to ensuring the safety of public sector networks.

Learn more about the NASCIO Technology Champion award and prior recipients at www.nascio.org/awards/ntc 

NASCIO Issues Call to Action for States: Develop Advanced Cyber Analytics Capabilities

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The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) today published a call to action for states to develop advanced cyber analytics capabilities.

The report presents a definition of advanced cyber analytics, why it is important, and makes the case that states need to invest in such capabilities now.

All organizations, including state government, must also develop and maintain response capabilities that continuously mature in sophistication in order to keep pace with an ever changing threat landscape. State government remains in a defensive position. With the advent of multi-vector strategies by cyber criminals, state government now more than ever needs the ability to correlate disparate data sources generated from the myriad of security tools agencies have already invested in.

“In partnership with the US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, NASCIO makes the case for advanced cyber analytics,” said NASCIO Executive Director Doug Robinson. “In the future, advanced persistent threats will become more and more sophisticated. States must move away from merely waiting for the next attack and respond to a more predictive stance in anticipating attacks so they can put necessary defense in place in advance.”

“With this issue brief we’re making a call to action to states and territories to make investment in cyber analytics a priority,” said Darryl Ackley, cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Department of Information Technology and NASCIO president. “We present a checklist, key questions and recommendations to help states begin to move forward with advanced analytics.”

Read the brief at www.nascio.org/cyberanalytics