GITA Government Information Technology Agency newsletter

              GITA
Monday February 1, 2010
In this issue
● State Agency Website Redesigns - (In March issue)
● Director’s corner
● Data Privacy Day
● Two new PIJs were approved by the Information Technology Authorization Committee
● Broadband Update - GITA receives $2.3 million federal broadband mapping and planning grant
● State Library receives $1.3 million broadband grant – 84 libraries will benefit
● Broadband Federal Grants Update – New Funding Opportunities Announced
● Leadership Series
● 5 - IT Security Directions for 2010
Director’s corner
Welcome to the first edition of the Government Information Technology Agency (GITA) online monthly
newsletter. Our newsletter will give you the latest information on information technology projects and
practices in the state of Arizona.
Because you have shown interest in our activities in the past, I am sending you this inaugural
newsletter. If you know anyone else who should receive this newsletter, please have them send an
email to: subscribe@azgita.gov.
GITA provides statewide leadership to ensure state investments in information technology and
infrastructure advance the interests of Arizona citizens. GITA provides strategic IT vision for the State
and assistance for stakeholders to achieve cost effective solutions, enhanced business processes and
lasting value.
On January 12, 2010, GITA released the FY2010 Statewide Strategic IT Plan. View the video overview of
the top five priorities for the state of Arizona. Access the full plan.
GITA is currently in the process of transforming the Project Investment Justification (PIJ) and project
monitoring. Phase 1 is now complete. This includes a risk-based approach to approving IT projects and
metric-based Project Management. By incorporating the latest project management practices, we hope
GITA
to save the state of Arizona funding resources while improving the execution and impact of IT projects.
There are many other activities that we are undertaking these include protecting citizen data privacy,
better information security practices, taxpayer savings through data center consolidation and “cloud”
computing, and expanding the availability of broadband throughout the state. Our agency just received
a $2.3 million federal grant to map the broadband infrastructure of Arizona and plan its future.
Thank you for your interest in the activities of the Government Information Technology Agency.
Chad Kirkpatrick
Director of GITA and the Arizona State Chief Information Officer
TOP
Data Privacy Day
Governor Jan Brewer issued a proclamation declaring January 28, 2010 Data
Privacy Day to promote the importance of privacy for individuals in today’s
world of high technology and information exchange.
In the Governor’s proclamation of Data Privacy Day she states: “It is
incumbent on private industry, non-profit organizations and government to:
(1) continually examine through such methods as the Generally Accepted
Privacy Principles and the appropriateness of collecting, securing and
managing all forms of personal identifying information, whether in hardcopy and electronic format; (2)
abide by appropriate and responsible information management policies and practices; (3) support
information privacy education within the organization; (4) provide individuals with ease of access to the
organization’s information management policies and practices; and (5) promote resources which assist
individuals to manage the privacy of their personal information.”
“Data Privacy Day is an important opportunity for the State to promote common sense privacy practices
to protect Arizona Citizens,” said Arizona’s Chief Privacy Officer Mary Beth Joublanc. “This is just one of
the important strategies to protect personally identifiable information by GITA - Statewide Information
Security and Privacy
Office.”
The Statewide Information Security and Privacy Office (SISPO) is part of the Government Information
Technology Agency (GITA) and serves as the strategic planning, facilitation and coordination office for
information technology security in Arizona state government. SISPO includes Jim Ryan, State Chief
Information Security Officer, and Mary Beth Joublanc, JD., Chief Privacy Officer and HIPAA Coordinator,
and Sherri Eshkibok, SISPO Operations Manager.
TOP
Two new PIJs were approved by the Information Technology Authorization
Committee
GITA
● Approved: An Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) HIPAA 5010
Transaction Standards PIJ for a joint project to be conducted by the States of Arizona and
Hawaii, to implement new versions of the electronic transactions standards for the Health
Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Federal Health and Human Services, which runs
the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, is requiring that electronic
transactions use only version 5010 of HIPAA standards by Jan 1, 2012.
Approved with Conditions: An Arizona State Land Department (ASLD) PIJ for a
joint project to be conducted with GITA, to provide a Geographic Information
System (GIS) database and Arizona Broadband Map to be utilized by public and
private entities and citizens throughout the State. This project will also provide the
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) along with
other federal agencies with GIS data critical for analyzing and tracking broadband
usage in Arizona.
TOP
Broadband Update
GITA receives $2.3 million federal broadband mapping and planning grant
The State of Arizona has been awarded $2.3 million through the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act (ARRA) of 2009 by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) in order
to map and plan expansion of broadband access.
The funding comes in two grants, which will be managed by Arizona’s Government Information
Technology Agency (GITA). The intent is to identify availability and speed of broadband throughout the
state and where future improvements will be prudent.
“Quality internet access is vital to educating our youth, providing a foundation for economic
development, promoting public safety, extending healthcare, and providing quality of life for Arizonans,”
said Governor Brewer. “These two grants are the first steps in expanding web access to more Arizonans
– especially in rural Arizona and tribal lands.”
GITA will work closely with the Arizona State Land Department and the state cartographer in developing
the Arizona broadband map. This project is part of a national effort called the State Broadband Data
and Development Grant Program, which provides up to approximately $240 million in federal grants to
assist states in developing state-specific broadband maps that will contribute to an overall national
broadband map.
“These two federal broadband mapping and planning grants are bold steps for Arizona,” said GITA
Director and State CIO Chad Kirkpatrick. “They will help create the blueprint for broadband and will
fulfill the information needs of the state. Many areas enjoy quality access to broadband, but some rural
and remote areas are in need of quality connections to bring additional access.”
TOP
GITA
State Library receives $1.3 million broadband grant – 84 libraries will benefit
The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records Division has been awarded $1.3 million grant
from the U.S. Department of Commerce to enhance existing facilities at 84 libraries in Arizona.
“With the economic challenges facing Arizona and the nation, local libraries
have become an important information center,” said Governor Brewer. “The
Public Computer Center grant will help bring our citizens closer to new
opportunities by providing more than 1,000 computers to libraries
throughout the state.”
Arizona’s Public Computer Center grant application was developed based on
a survey of 124 libraries, and as a result, 84 libraries were selected for the
grant based on need and the ability to be “shovel ready” to add more computers to meet growing
community needs. Receiving this grant allows Arizona’s libraries to extend their reach to more than
450,000 previously underserved citizens of Arizona.
The Arizona Broadband Advisory Committee, chaired by GITA director and state CIO Chad Kirkpatrick,
gave this grant application its highest recommendation to the Governor in its review of the federal
broadband applications impacting Arizona. Governor Brewer set up this committee to help in evaluating
the over 100 broadband grants that were received by NTIA impacting Arizona. Governor’s of the fifty
states were asked by NTIA to give their input into the grants affecting their states.
TOP
Broadband Federal Grants Update – New Funding Opportunities Announced
The Recovery Act appropriated $7.2 billion and directed the Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities
Service (RUS) and the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications Information
Administration (NTIA) to expand broadband access to unserved and underserved communities across
the U.S., increase jobs, spur investments in technology and infrastructure, and provide long-term
economic benefits.
The result is the RUS Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP) and the NTIA
Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP).
BIP will make loans and grants for broadband infrastructure in rural areas.
BTOP will provide grants to fund broadband infrastructure, public computer
centers and sustainable broadband adoption projects.
The second and final round of broadband grant funding opportunities under
this program was announced January 15, 2010. The details of the grant application process are at www.
broadbandusa.gov for those interested in submitting a grant proposal.
GITA has staff ready to assisted interested parties in answering general questions regarding this
process. There are also federal employees at NTIA and RUS that can answer key questions. The total
amount of broadband grant funding available in this final round is $4.8 billion nationwide.
TOP
GITA
Leadership Series
GITA has introduced a program for reaching out to the Arizona State Agencies, Boards and
Commissions IT community. This program consists of a quarterly series of seminars with the purpose of
discussing IT issues relevant to the State.
The first of these seminars was held in October 2009 and discussed the 2010 Arizona Statewide IT
Strategic Plan.
The second of these seminars was held in January 2010 and covered the topic of Microsoft Licensing
Optimization.
Future sessions will be planned for the upcoming quarters and will include topics ranging from Project
Oversight and Governance Process Changes to updates on the SaaS Pilot/Enterprise Email activities.
Please check in at http://www.azgita.gov/ under the tab IT Leadership Series to see materials and
registration information.
We at GITA look forward to communicating important information and opening up the dialogue amongst
the Arizona State IT leaders. For any questions or comments, please contact Leah Sweet LSweet@azgita.
gov or Paul Wix PWix@azgita.gov.
TOP
5 - IT Security Directions for 2010
[1] The standardization challenge: As government agencies continue to
invest in new technologies on an enterprise basis, IT security mitigation
efforts will become more efficient and effective.
[2] A good offense is a good "Defense in Depth" design: Trojan
attacks will continue to be a threat and will increase in sophistication. Multi-dimensional
defensive strategies will be required to manage internal and
external risk and vulnerabilities.
[3] Cloudy forecast: Government agencies will reverse the tendency of “protecting everything” and
instead prioritize privacy & security controls based on whether the data in question presents low,
moderate or high levels of risk when migrating to the Cloud SaaS (Software as a Service).
[4] Proactive Network Access Controls: Network security will take a more predictive, proactive
approach to preventing threats when filtering and monitoring in-bound and out-bound internet traffic.
[5] Identity Management Upgraded: The coming year will see a tipping point in the use of tokens
and biometric identification tools (e.g., iris, facial or fingerprint scans) to verify identity access to
confidential information and wired and wireless critical infrastructures.
TOP
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