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The IT Alliance for Public Sector (ITAPS) recently sent a letter outlining our concerns with California’s A.B. 1546, a bill that would create a statutory mandate for the California Department of Technology (CDT) to develop a standardized contractor performance assessment to evaluate the performance of a contractor on certain information technology (IT) projects. While we support the need for accountability [...]
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When discussing cybersecurity, specifically securing IT systems, it’s not revolutionary to point out that states and localities struggle to keep up with the ever-increasing demands placed on them. It’s widely regarded that states and local governments lack the necessary budget and ability to secure the talented professionals needed to thwart these threats. Year after year, the National Association [...]
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Today, on behalf of the IT Alliance for Public Sector (ITAPS), a division of tech trade group ITI, I will testify before the California Senate Rules Committee hearing in favor of the confirmation of Amy Tong as the California State Chief Information Officer and Director of the California Department of Technology (CDT). Under Tong’s leadership, CDT has undergone improvements to provide increased transparency [...]
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In 2015, an audit by California exposing glaring lapses in the state’s cybersecurity readiness quickly galvanized the California legislature and policymakers to take action. Fast forward to an oversight hearing last week which found, to its credit, the California Department of Technology (CDT) has improved upon its plan to fill those holes by hiring Peter Liebert earlier this year as the state’s new [...]
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Too often in the broader cybersecurity discussion the fact is lost that state and local governments are some of the most vulnerable and sought after targets of cybercrime. While much of the discussion focuses on securing federal systems and data, what government officials must keep in mind is that states and localities manage an exceptional amount of personally identifiable information that by all [...]
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The California Department of Technology (CDT) held its second Vendor Advisory Council meeting, early this week. The Vendor Advisory Council, established and coordinated by the IT Alliance for Public Sector (ITAPS) and several industry trade associations, intends to provide a venue for increased coordination between CDT, the Department of General Services (DGS), and vendors doing business with the state. [...]
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Last week, we welcomed Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe to the ITI/ITAPS 2016 Cybersecurity Forum to deliver keynote remarks to our convening of experts gathered to discuss the future of cybersecurity policy within federal and state governments. As the newly appointed chair of the National Governor’s Association (NGA), Gov. McAuliffe, spoke about the need of states to address the growing cybersecurity [...]
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The IT Alliance for Public Sector (ITAPS), a division of ITI, recently sent a letter urging North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) to sign state Senate bill 792 into law. The legislation, which was approved by the state legislature last week, clarifies that state information technology contracts include an expanded limitation of contractor liability. While North Carolina has existing standard terms and [...]
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Today the IT Alliance for Public Sector (ITAPS), a division of ITI, published its State Cybersecurity Principals and Best Practices, a set of recommendations which encapsulates state and federal practices that have proven to be mature and effective in promoting a secure cyber environment at the state and local government level. The private sector owns and operates 85 percent of critical infrastructure [...]
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The IT Alliance for Public Sector (ITAPS) recently sent a letter to the Arizona Department of Administration opposing its decision to include Most Favored Customer (MFC) language in future open bid opportunities. This restrictive contract clause is of major concern to the information technology (IT) industry because it substantially decreases competition, significantly increases procurement cycles, [...]