The November issue of Network News includes VITA's response to Northrop Grumman's proposed Corrective Action Plan, Virginia's NASCIO winners, recent activities of the IT Infrastructure Partnership, upcoming meetings and events and information security resources.

Read the November issue of Network News

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The Health Information Technology Standards Advisory Committee will hold a joint meeting with the Health Information Technology Advisory Commission on Monday, Nov. 9, beginning at 9 a.m. The meeting will be held at the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association Headquarters, 4200 Innslake Drive Glen Allen, Virginia 23060. The committee, established by the General Assembly, will provide recommendations to the Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB). An opportunity for public input will be provided near the end of the meeting at approximately 11:45 a.m.

Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that three Virginia information technology projects have received prestigious national Recognition Awards for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Information Technology from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO). Winning initiatives exemplify best practices, support the public policy goals of state leaders, assist government officials to innovatively execute their duties, and provide cost-effective service to citizens. The Commonwealth received more Recognition Awards in the 2009 NASCIO program than any other state.

The honored projects include:

• “Virginia Performs: Virginia's Performance Leadership and Accountability System”—Council on Virginia’s Future; in the category Data, Information and Knowledge Management;

• “Virginia.gov Portal Widgets”—Virginia Information Technologies Agency; in the category Government to Citizen; and

• “Virginia Technology Portfolio 2.0”—Virginia Information Technologies Agency; in the category IT Project and Portfolio Management

Read Governor Kaine's news release on the honors

VITA has responded to the Corrective Action Plan regarding the IT infrastructure transformation submitted by Northrop Grumman. CIO George Coulter said the plan is a significant improvement from an operational standpoint. It represents a substantial amount of work by Northrop Grumman, and improves agency planning and VITA’s ability to analyze Northrop Grumman’s performance. The plan does not change or supersede the Comprehensive Infrastructure Agreement that is in place. VITA and Northrop Grumman will use components of the plan that help get transformation scheduled at agencies and completed by June 2010.

VITA's response

CIO George Coulter's comments

The October edition of the VITA Service Bulletin features John Tyler Community College's "green" initiative and its use of state IT contracts to help meet goals, 2009 Governor's Technology Awards and extensive information security resources as part of our observation of October as Information Security Awareness month.

Read the October Service Bulletin

Subscribe to the Service Bulletin

Commonwealth Security and Risk Management is holding the First Annual Commonwealth Information Security Conference for state and local government attendees to assist in fulfilling our shared mission of securing information.  “Information Security: Mission Possible!” is the theme of the conference that will be held Nov. 2, 2009 at The Holiday Inn Select, Kroger South Conference Center in Richmond, VA. Continuing professional education (CPE) credits are being offered.

The Health Information Technology Standards Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on Thursday, Oct. 22, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center in Chester. The committee, established by the General Assembly, will provide recommendations to the Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB). An opportunity for public input will be provided near the end of the meeting at approximately 2:45 p.m.

The Information Technology Investment Board’s IT Infrastructure Committee will meet at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009, in the Chesterfield Room at the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center in Chester.  An opportunity for public input will be provided at the end of the meeting at approximately 11 a.m. One or more other members of the ITIB also may be in attendance at the committee meeting.

View meeting presentation

The regular quarterly meeting of the Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB) is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center in Chester. An opportunity for public comment will be provided at the end of the meeting.

**Please note the final agenda for this meeting has been posted

View the final agenda

Approximately 95 people participated in the Commonwealth’s Information Security Officers Advisory Group (ISOAG) meeting October 6.  Participants were from the executive (including higher education), judicial and legislative branches of state government, independent agencies and localities.  The keynote presentations were made by Chris Miller, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, on an “Overview of COOP Planning” and Sandra Graham, Chesterfield County, on “Recognizing National Cyber Security Awareness Month – From a Locality Perspective”.  Additional topics included Information Security Month, IronPort review, encryption mechanics & key management, and the 2009 Commonwealth Security Annual Report.  The session was hosted by Commonwealth Chief Information Security Officer John Green and VITA.  The next meeting is from 1-4 p.m., Wednesday, November 18, at the State Corporation Commission located at 1300 E. Main St., Richmond.

The October issue of Network News includes an introduction to the new Northrop Grumman program manager, requirements for stimulus-funded technology procurements, a prestigious national award for Virginia's stimulus Web site, Governor's Technology Awards winners, recent activities of the IT Infrastructure Partnership, upcoming meetings and events and information security resources.

Read the October issue of Network News

Subscribe to Network News

VITA is inviting all customer agencies to participate in the fourth annual VITA/Northrop Grumman Invitational Golf Tournament on Monday, Oct. 12, at the Kiskiack Golf Club in Williamsburg. Registration closes at noon on Oct. 2. All state and Northrop Grumman employees, partners/consultants, and immediate family members are invited to participate in this event. As in previous years, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Last year’s contribution was $19,000.

The September issue of Information Security Tips provides users information on cyber ethics. Cyber ethics refers to the code of responsible behavior on the Internet. This newsletter provides information related to specific security standards for state employees and general information that home computer users will find valuable in protecting against cyber and information attacks.

The CIO of the Commonwealth has made available the 2009 report listing of procurements for non-professional and professional services competed with the private sector. This report covers the timeframe of July 1, 2007- June 30, 2009. VITA has been working together with the Department of General Services to solicit this information and it has been compiled and published by DGS on eVA.

2009 Services Procurement Report

The Health Information Technology Standards Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on Tuesday, September 29, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center in Chester. The committee, established by the General Assembly, will provide recommendations to the Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB). An opportunity for public input will be provided near the end of the meeting at approximately 2:45 p.m.

The September edition of the VITA Service Bulletin features the state contract for emergency notification tools, prestigious national recognition for the City of Virginia Beach and Fairfax County and information security resources.

Read September VITA Service Bulletin

VITA is inviting all customer agencies to participate in the fourth annual VITA/Northrop Grumman Invitational Golf Tournament on Monday, Oct. 12, at the Kiskiack Golf Club in Williamsburg. Registration closes on Sept. 28. All state and Northrop Grumman employees, partners/consultants, and immediate family members are invited to participate in this event. As in previous years, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Last year’s contribution was $19,000.

Click here to register

The Health Information Technology Standards Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on Thursday, September 17, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center in Chester. The committee, established by the General Assembly, will provide recommendations to the Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB). An opportunity for public input will be provided near the end of the meeting at approximately 2:45 p.m.

The Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB) committee meetings scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 17, have been postponed. The full ITIB will meet on Thursday, Oct. 15, when the board is expected to approve additional committee appointments. The next committee meeting day is scheduled Thursday, Dec. 17.

CIO George Coulter announced yesterday the reorganization of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA). The reorganization is designed to focus intense attention on enhancing IT services provided to the state agencies. Changes also are expected in the Northrop Grumman partnership team to complement the new VITA organization. VITA and Northrop Grumman are in the fourth year of a 10-year, $1.9 billion contract to modernize the IT infrastructure for executive branch agencies.

George Coulter, CIO of the Commonwealth, today announced the formation of a CIO Council to provide state agencies additional input into decision-making regarding information technology. 14 executive branch agency IT and business leaders will serve on the council. Nine represent large agencies, three represent medium-sized agencies and two represent small agencies.

Read the release

Congratulations! The Center for Digital Government has honored Virginia's official stimulus reporting site with a 2009 Digital Government Achievement Award in the Government-to-Citizen category. The Center's companion Best of the Web recognition program ranks the Web portal for the City of Virginia Beach as first in the nation in the city category, and Fairfax County's Web portal as first in the county category. The Commonwealth's state portal was ranked first in the nation among states in 2008 and did not compete in this year's state category.

The stimulus reporting site facilitated citizen input into project selection and transparency of funded projects. Between Feb. 10 and the March 6 submission deadline, more than 9,000 citizen proposals were submitted to the Governor's office through the Web site. It was created collaboratively by staff from the Governor's office, State Comptroller, Depts. of Planning and Budget, Accounts and VITA's Enterprise Applications Division (formerly VEAP).

Read the Governor's press release

Read 2009 Digital Government Achievement Award and Best of the Web details

The September issue of Network News begins with a message from George Coulter, VITA's CIO. Other news in this issue includes submission of the annual RTIP report to the Governor and General Assembly, Virginia finalists for 2009 NASCIO Recognition Awards, voicemail changes, recent activities of the IT Infrastructure Partnership, upcoming meetings and events, and information security resources.

Read the September issue of Network News

Subscribe to Network News

The Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB) has submitted the Recommended Technology Investment Projects (RTIP) Report for 2009 to the Governor and General Assembly as required by state code. The ITIB recommends 42 technology investment projects for new or continued funding. Of those, 25 are active. Seventeen new projects, all of which have received planning approval, are recommended for funding.

Northrop Grumman has delivered a proposed corrective action plan to the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA). The plan addresses how Northrop Grumman proposes to move forward to meet the terms of the $1.9 billion, 10-year contract to modernize the IT infrastructure for executive branch agencies.

Read the release

The August issue of the Citizen's Information Security Advisory provides users information on security-related issues that could allow malicious individuals on the Internet to take full control over an affected computer.  The advisory, titled "Stealing, Installing and Attacking! Oh my!," discusses how individuals can steal information from the computer, or install illegal software on the affected computer and use the affected computer to attack other computers on the Internet. This advisory provides valuable information on how to protect your home computer from known security-related software issues.

Read the August edition

VITA is inviting all customer agencies to participate in the fourth annual VITA/Northrop Grumman Invitational Golf Tournament on Monday, Oct. 12, at the Kiskiack Golf Club in Williamsburg. All state and Northrop Grumman employees, partners/consultants, and immediate family members are invited to participate in this event. As in previous years, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Last year’s contribution was $19,000.

The August edition of the VITA Service Bulletin features upcoming conferences including COVITS and the first annual Interoperability Conference and Exposition, plus scholarship funding for the event; Virginia's Digital Counties winners; upcoming changes to Verizon voicemail service and information security resources.

Read August Service Bulletin 

Subscribe to the Service Bulletin 

The Virginia Information Technology Investment Board selected George F. Coulter as Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the Commonwealth of Virginia. Mr. Coulter brings more than 30 years of experience in the information technology (IT) field, having served in executive positions with global companies in the areas of energy, banking and insurance, transportation, telecommunications, and food and beverage.

Read the release

Read Mr. Coulter's bio

The August issue of Information Security Tips provides users information on "browser" cookies. There are some privacy and security issues to be aware of, so it is important to understand the purpose of a “browser” cookie and manage their use on your computer appropriately. This tip will help you understand what a “browser” cookie is, what it is used for and what risks might be associated with using cookies. This newsletter provides information related to specific security standards for state employees and general information that home computer users will find valuable in protecting against cyber and information attacks.

Read Information Security Tips

Entries for the 2009 Governor's Technology Awards, which had been due Tuesday, August 18, will now be accepted through midnight on Friday, August 21. Entries should be submitted through the online form on the COVITS Web site.

Read full details about the awards program and enter online http://www.covits.org/governor's_technology_awards/awards.cfm

- Update: 10 a.m. CIO Search and Executive Evaluation Committee meeting canceled
11 a.m. ITIB meeting will be held as scheduled -

The Information Technology Investment Board will hold a special meeting on Thursday, Aug. 20, in multipurpose room 1223 at the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center, 11751 Meadowville Lane, Chester, VA. The Chief Information Officer (CIO) Search and Executive Evaluation Committee will meet at 10 a.m., and the full ITIB will meet at 11 a.m. in the multipurpose room. On the agenda for the committee will be discussion regarding the recommended candidate for the CIO position. The ITIB is expected to receive and act on the committee’s recommendation. An opportunity for public input will be provided near the end of each meeting, at approximately 10:45 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Portions of the meetings may be conducted in closed session.

Agenda

The Health Information Technology Standards Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on Thursday, August 20, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center in Chester. The committee, established by the General Assembly, will provide recommendations to the Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB). An opportunity for public input will be provided near the end of the meeting at approximately 2:45 p.m.

View the Draft Agenda

Today, the National Association of State CIOs (NASCIO) released the finalists in its 2009 Recognition Awards program. Four Virginia initiatives have been selected as finalists for this prestigious honor; two are directly managed by VITA. Thirty initiatives were chosen as finalists from 117 submissions by 31 states. Virginia received more finalist awards than any other state. One initiative in each category will be honored as the award recipient at NASCIO’s Annual Conference on Oct. 26 in Austin, Texas.

The Virginia finalists by category include:
Virginia Technology Portfolio 2.0, Commonwealth Project Management Division - IT Project and Portfolio Management category
Virginia.gov Portal Widgets, managed by VITA Communications - Government to Citizen category
Virginia Performs: Virginia's Performance Leadership and Accountability System - Data, Information and Knowledge Management category
University IT Internships, Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy - Cross Boundary Collaboration category

According to NASCIO, "Emphasis was placed on recognizing programs that exemplify best practices, support the public policy goals of state leaders, represent an innovative use of existing and new technology, assist government officials to efficiently execute their duties, provide cost-effective service to citizens and are transferable to other agencies or units of government."

Read the Governor's news release 

Read the complete NASCIO news release

Virginia Secretary of Finance Ric Brown is chairman, while former Director of the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget Scott Pattison serves as executive director of the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO), which is meeting this week in Norfolk, VA. Both are members of the Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB). Governor Timothy M. Kaine welcomed the attendees. “The work performed by NASBO and its members is always difficult, but it has been particularly tough during the past few years,” Governor Kaine said. “ … we will continue to rely on our budget and finance officers to help us make the critical decisions that meet our present needs while preparing us for future growth and success.” NASBO works to improve the quality and availability of information to state budget offices and assist the National Governors Association in the development and implementation of its policy positions on fiscal issues.

The August edition of Network News includes the approaching deadline for submissions to the Governor's Technology Awards program, COVITS 2009, the Commonwealth's business intelligence contract, recent activities of the IT Infrastructure Partnership and upcoming meetings for agency representatives.

Read August Network News 

The July issue of Information Security Tips provides users information on cybercrime. A cybercrime incident can lead to loss of business and consumer confidence, financial loss, productivity loss, and even loss of intellectual property. For something to be considered a crime, however, requires a law to denote it as such, and the laws have, to this point, lagged behind technology. This newsletter provides information related to specific security standards for state employees and general information that home computer users will find valuable in protecting against cyber and information attacks.

Read Information Security Tips

The Virginia counties of Loudon and Roanoke have been recognized as best in the nation for effective use of digital government tools, according to the 2009 Digital Counties Survey. Four other Virginia counties were also ranked in the top ten in their population categories. The survey is an annual national study by the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties (NACo) which identifies best practices and recognizes those counties with exemplary digital service to their citizens. Complete Virginia county honors per population category include Fairfax County, fourth among counties with >500,000; Loudon County, first for >250,000; Roanoke county; first for >150,000 and Gloucester County, second, Albemarle County, sixth and Franklin Countym, ninth in the <150,000 population category. Congratulations to all the Virginia winners and entrants!

See the 2009 Digital Counties Survey

The regular quarterly meeting of the Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB) will be held Friday, July 24. The ITIB meeting will begin at 10 a.m. at the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center (CESC) in Chester. On the agenda will be an update on IT infrastructure transformation, the Recommended Technology Investment Projects (RTIP) report, Chief Information Officer report, and more.  Public input will be accepted near the end of the meeting. The CIO Search and Executive Evaluation Committee will meet at 9 a.m.

View meeting agendas

The Health Information Technology Standards Advisory Committee will  meet on Thursday, July 30, 2009, at 10 a.m. at the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center, 11751 Meadowville Lane, Chester.  Public comment will be received at  approximately 2:30 p.m.  A draft agenda will be posted as soon as it is finalized. The commitee was formed to provide recommendations to the Information Technology Investment Board.

The July edition of the VITA Service Bulletin features the Commonwealth's enterprise contract for business intelligence software, COVITS 2009 and an invitation to submit your entries to the 2009 Governor's Technology Awards program.

Read the July VITA Service Bulletin

The Health Information Technology Standards Advisory Committee will hold its organizational meeting on Thursday, July 16, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center in Chester. The committee, established by the General Assembly, will provide recommendations to the Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB). An agenda is being finalized and will be posted. An opportunity for public input will be provided near the end of the meeting at approximately 2:30 p.m.

The June issue of Information Security Tips provides users information on how to protect their mobile communication devices (Blackberries, iPhones and smart phones in general). A significant amount of personal, private and/or sensitive information may accumulate or be accessed via these devices. This newsletter provides information related to specific security standards for state employees and general information that home computer users will find valuable in protecting against cyber and information attacks.

The July issue of Network News begins with a message from Len Pomata, VITA's Interim CIO and a look at upcoming milestones. Other news includes COVITS 2009, a decrease in wireless rates, recent activities of the IT Infrastructure Partnership, the call for entries for the 2009 Governor's Technology Awards, Commonwealth IT entries submitted for national recognition and upcoming meetings for agency representatives.

Read the July issue of Network News

Subscribe to Network News

The regular quarterly meeting of the Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB) has been rescheduled. The meeting, previously slated for July 16, has been moved to Friday, July 24, because of scheduling conflicts. The July 24 ITIB meeting will begin at 10 a.m. at the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center in Chester. On the agenda will be an update on IT infrastructure transformation, the Recommended Technology Investment Projects (RTIP) report, Chief Information Officer and Chief Applications Officer reports, and more. An agenda will be posted as soon as it is finalized. Public input will be accepted near the end of the meeting. The Governance Committee meeting scheduled July 16 has been canceled.

The Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB) has named Leonard M. "Len" Pomata Interim Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Commonwealth. Mr. Pomata was appointed Secretary of Technology earlier this month by Governor Kaine. He has 38 years of engineering and system development experience. An original member of the ITIB, Secretary Pomata will serve as Interim CIO until the ITIB selects a permanent CIO in the coming months.

Interim CIO's Biography

The June issue of the VITA Service Bulletin features a message from VITA's Interim CIO, Len Pomata. This month's edition of the VITA Service Bulletin highlights new state contracts for personal computing, including desktops, laptops, rugged laptops, peripherals and software.

Subscribe to the Service Bulletin

The Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB) IT Infrastructure Committee scheduled for Thursday, June 18, has been postponed. The committee will meet in July. The meeting details and an agenda will be provided as soon as they are available.

The CIO-CAO Communications Exchange meeting scheduled for June 23 is cancelled due to schedule conflicts. The next regularly-scheduled meeting is August 25 at 9 a.m.

Meeting information

The Information Technology Investment Board IT Infrastructure Committee will meet on Thursday, June 18, at 10 a.m. at the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center in Chester. Agenda items include IT transformation, service delivery and managed services. An opportunity for public input will be provided near the end of the meeting, at approximately 11:15 a.m.

Governor Timothy M. Kaine has announced the appointment of Leonard M. Pomata as Secretary of Technology. Mr. Pomata has served as an active member of Virginia's Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB) since its inception in 2003. He also brings 38 years of experience in engineering and computer system development for both the public and private sectors. Since 2007, he has served as an IT consultant, providing strategic consulting to facilitate market entry and expansion for business interests. Mr. Pomata has also served on the George Mason University Board of Visitors and the GMU Foundation.

Read the Governor's news release

Read more about the ITIB

The Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB) will meet in special session on Wednesday, June 10. The meeting, which begins at 3:30 p.m., has been scheduled to discuss filling the Chief Information Officer position, the IT infrastructure contract and delegation of board powers. A substantial portion of the meeting may be in closed session. Public input will be accepted at approximately 6:15 p.m. near the end of the meeting. This will be an electronic meeting. The primary location is the Chesterfield Conference Room of the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center (CESC), 11751 Meadowville Lane, Chester. The secondary location, which will be open to the public and connected by teleconference to the primary location, is the CIO’s Office, Building 400, 120 Corporate Boulevard, Norfolk. The following telephone number may be called during the meeting to notify the primary meeting location of any interruption in the telephonic broadcast of the meeting at the secondary location: (804) 416-6004.

View meeting agenda

The Information Technology Investment Board's Enterprise Applications and Major Projects Committee will meet on Thursday, June 11, 2009, in the Chesterfield Conference Room of the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center (CESC) in Chester. The session will begin at 1 p.m. On the agenda are Commonwealth major IT projects, project governance assessment tool, strategic plan for applications, 2009 legislation affecting applications, enterprise and collaborative applications, and an applications modernization timeline. An opportunity for public input is expected near the end of the meeting, at approximately 3:45 p.m.

The Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB) will meet in special session on Wednesday, June 10, in the Chesterfield Conference Room of the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center (CESC) in Chester. The meeting, which begins at 3:30 p.m., has been scheduled to discuss the IT infrastructure partnership. The discussion will take place in closed session as discussion in open session would adversely affect the financial interest of VITA and the Commonwealth. Public input will be accepted at approximately 6:15 p.m. near the end of the meeting.

The June issue of Network News kicks off with Information Security. This topic is of utmost importance and a continual challenge. Other news includes recent activities of the IT Infrastructure Partnership, rate reductions from IT service providers, online talent management tools and upcoming meetings.

Read the June issue of Network News

Subscribe to Network News

The May issue of Information Security Tips provides users information on how to spot and avoid malicious (fake) anti-virus software. The primary way rogue anti-virus software gets on your system is the result of you clicking on a malicious link in an advertisement or similar pop-up message. This newsletter provides information related to specific security standards for state employees and general information that home computer users will find valuable in protecting against cyber and information attacks.

The May issue of the VITA Service Bulletin features information about the new statewide contracts with Verizon, nTelos, Sprint/Nextel and AT&T. The state's combined buying power has enabled VITA to negotiate new opportunities. VITA's Virginia Geographic Information Network (VGIN) has played a key role in creation of a new statewide map of broadband availability, which will be key to directing new funding opportunities. Find out more in this edition.

Read the May Service Bulletin

Subscribe to the Service Bulletin

The Finance and Audit Committee of the Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB) will meet at noon on Friday, May 22, 2009. The agenda will include discussion of inventory and internal service fund agency billing, rate proposal for the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) and the current fiscal year budget for the Virginia Enterprise Applications Program (VEAP). An opportunity for public input will be provided at the end of the meeting, estimated to be approximately 1:20 p.m. The primary location for the meeting will be: Room 3E, General Assembly Building, 910 Capitol St., Richmond. A remote location accessible to the public for telephonic connection to the meeting will be: Holiday Inn Capitol, Columbia Ballroom, 550 C. St., SW., Washington, DC. The following is a telephone number that may be called during the meeting to notify the primary meeting location of any interruption in the telephonic broadcast of the meeting: (804) 683-2140.

Governor Timothy M. Kaine announced the appointment of Karen Jackson as Deputy Secretary of Technology. Jackson, of Poquoson, is currently the director of the Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance for the Commonwealth. She has previously served as the vice-president for broadband programs and as a regional director for Virginia’s Center for Innovative Technology and worked as an associate information design specialist for Computer Sciences Corporation in Hampton Roads.

Read the Governor's release

VITA has awarded statewide contracts to Verizon Wireless and nTelos for cellular voice and data services, replacing expiring statewide contracts and providing the Commonwealth expanded coverage, plans, features and service providers. Services for existing Alltel customers will transition to Verizon Wireless; services for Sprint Nextel customers have not changed. Most existing contract users will not have to take any action retain their service. VITA is negotiating with other carriers, so additional awards may be announced shortly.

Read more

Review cellular services

Sanborn, a leading provider of geospatial solutions,will continue to provide statewide orthophotography base mapping for the period of 2009 to 2012. The program includes other geospatial framework data beyond orthophotography with buy-ups for higher resolution imagery, and over a dozen optional products such as LiDAR, planimetric data and 3D buildings. The program is a resource for state and local governments as well as private commercial entities.

The May issue of Network News features new statewide contracts that have been awarded for cellular service through Verizon Wireless and nTelos, and the article in this issue notes that opportunities for cost savings or enhanced value may be realized. Other news includes recent activities of the IT Infrastructure Partnership, a review of the Virginia Security Summit, request for comments on the Commonwealth's information security policy and upcoming meetings for agency representatives.

Read the May issue of Network News

Subscribe to Network News

View meeting materials

James F. (Jim) McGuirk II has been re-appointed to the Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB) for a four-year term through June 30, 2013.

McGuirk is an one of the original members of the board, having served since its formation in 2003. He currently serves as chairman. McGuirk currently operates AKLM Consulting, a company he founded that focuses on market research, positioning and strategy, and partner alliance programs in government technology. Prior to that, he was a vice president for Siebel Systems where he was responsible for developing the company's market positioning and sales in the government sector. McGuirk is a recipient of the Federal Computer Week Eagle Award for his significant contribution to the federal government information technology community. He was appointed by the Joint Rules Committee of the General Assembly.

The draft Information Security Policy (SEC500) has been posted on ORCA for review and comments. The draft has been substantially changed and should be reviewed in its entirety. The 30 day comment period will run until May 18, 2009. All comments received will be considered for inclusion in the final document.

The Commonwealth Project Management Division (PMD) has posted a revision of the Project Manager Selection and Training Standard for review on ORCA. The 30-day comment period will run until May 12, 2009. All comments will be considered for inclusion in the final document.

ORCA login page

Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine and U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner released a joint statement praising President Obama's appointment of Virginia Technology Secretary Aneesh Chopra to serve as the nation's first Chief Technology Officer. The announcement was made during the President's weekly Internet and radio address.

The April issue of the VITA Service Bulletin features information about the Virginia Wireless E-911 Services Board that just awarded more than $15.7 million in grants to localities. Also, this month features a no-match, 100% funding grant opportunity for licensed emergency medical services agencies from the Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services. Other helpful items include information about upcoming opportunities for national recognition and a link to information about security of credit card transactions.

Read the April Service Bulletin

Subscribe to the Service Bulletin

The first Virginia Security Summit will be held April 27 at the Marriott in downtown Richmond. Commonwealth Chief Information Officer Lem Stewart will kick off the morning session, which will feature Sol Bermann, privacy director at Wal-Mart, who will discuss “Privacy: State of the States!” The afternoon session will be opened by Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra, and will feature Johnny Long, hacker, security expert and author on “Hacking, Social Engineering and Other Things That Keep Us Awake at Night.” Registration for state and local government members is complimentary; registration is not open to the private sector. The event is being held in partnership with Government Technology magazine.

The April issue of Information Security Tips provides users information on how the credit card industry has responded to security issues and steps you can take to protect your information. Continued use of credits cards requires confidence by consumers that their transaction and credit card information are secure. This newsletter provides information related to specific security standards for state employees and general information that home computer users will find valuable in protecting against cyber and information attacks.

The Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB) and two committees will meet on Thursday, April 16. The sessions will be held in the Multipurpose Room and Chesterfield Room at the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center (CESC) in Chester.

Meetings include:
10:30 a.m. –Legislative Affairs Committee - Chesterfield Conference Room
11 a.m. –IT Infrastructure Committee - Multipurpose Room
1 p.m. –ITIB Full Board - Multipurpose Room

View meeting materials

On March 13, 2009 Chief of Staff Wayne Turnage requested that the Commonwealth’s IT service providers agree to a voluntary 10% rate reductions for all information technology contractors or consultants currently engaged with the Commonwealth. This reduction applies to current engagements, as well as new engagements for IT contractor or IT consultant services.

Read the memo to the IT suppliers

Read the instructions for the COS rate reduction

The April issue of Network News features 2009 General Assembly action on technology related bills, welcomes Virginia's new Deputy Secretary of Technology, solicits information about successful state IT projects for national recognition and features a new collaborative Web site for Agency Information Technology Resources. You also can read about recent activities of the IT Infrastructure Partnership, complimentary registration for the upcoming Virginia Security Summit and upcoming meetings.

Read the April issue of Network News

Subscribe to Network News

The March issue of Information Security Tips provides users information on staying safe while visiting social networking sites. While there are many benefits of using social networking sites, it is also important to understand the potential security risks and know what precautions to take to protect yourself and your information. This newsletter provides information related to specific security standards for state employees and general information that home computer users will find valuable in protecting against cyber and information attacks.

Read Information Security Tips

The Information Technology Investment Board (ITIB) and three committees will meet on Monday, March 30. The sessions will be held in the Multipurpose Room and Chesterfield Room at the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center (CESC) in Chester. A portion of the full ITIB meeting and a portion of the CIO Search and Executive Evaluation Committee meeting may be closed to the public to permit discussion of topics allowed under state rules regarding such sessions.

Meetings include:
10 a.m. –ITIB Full Board - Multipurpose Room 1221, 1222 and 1223
1 p.m. –Customer Service Committee - Multipurpose Room
1 p.m. –CIO Search and Executive Evaluation - Chesterfield Conference Room
2:30 p.m. –Commonwealth IT Solutions Committee - Multipurpose Room

View meeting materials

Driving directions to CESC

View meeting materials

The March issue of the VITA Service Bulletin features information about two IT leaders from Virginia localities that were named national "Top Doers, Dreamers and Drivers" by Government Technology magazine and a new Web-based tool for Citizen Request Management. Also in this issue are updates to Virginia's Web site for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and a link to information about Internet security trends for 2009.

Read the March Service Bulletin

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BearingPoint announced Feb. 18 that it has filed for restructuring under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. VITA has posted a customer letter from BearingPoint and the company’s most recent 8k filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Agencies and public entities are advised to read these materials prior to making business decisions. As always, buyers are advised to obtain quotes from all Advanced Information Technology Resource suppliers prior to entering into a statement of work. If you have any questions regarding the company announcement from BearingPoint, please contact Don Parr, Managing Director, BearingPoint, at (804) 935-4804.

Each year, Government Technology magazine publishes its kudos to 25 individuals for use of technology to implement changes that reshape government for the better. The just-published 2009 list recognizes two of Virginia's most innovative local leaders: Roy Mentkow, Director of Technology for the city of Roanoke and Andy Stein, Director of IT for the city of Newport News. Each has provided outstanding leadership within the Virginia IT community. Past Virginia honorees in the program include Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra (2008) and CIO Lem Stewart (2007).

Read about the 2009 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers

The March issue of Network News features a new VITA/VGIN partnership with geospatial data provider NAVTEQ that offers you access to new functionality at no additional cost. VITA is also making a key change to its customer service organization that is detailed in this issue. You can also read about recent activities of the IT Infrastructure Partnership, complimentary registration for the upcoming Virginia Security Summit, a Telly award and upcoming meetings.

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The February issue of Information Security Tips provides users information on Internet security trends for 2009. With our daily lives becoming increasingly reliant on computers and the Internet, we exchange information, operate businesses and perform financial transactions with little thought of the real risks involved in doing so. This newsletter provides information related to specific security standards for state employees and general information that home computer users will find valuable in protecting against cyber and information attacks.

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The Commonwealth's Information Security Officers Advisory Group (ISOAG) meeting was held February 25 with 99 participants from the executive branch (including higher education), judicial and legislative branches of government, independent agencies and localities. Keynote presentations included those by the Auditor of Public Accounts on the 2008 Commonwealth Information Security Report as well as Virginia State Guidelines, DNSSEC, Red Flag Rules and Security Legislation. The session was hosted by Commonwealth Chief Information Security Officer Peggy Ward and VITA. The next meeting is Wednesday, March 25 from 1-4 p.m.

View meeting materials

"The Duhs of Security," a security awareness video developed by Commonwealth Security, has been awarded a Bronze Telly Award in the 30th Annual Telly Awards program. Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards is the premiere award honoring outstanding local, regional and cable TV commercials and programs. The Telly Awards receive over 13,000 entries annually from all 50 states and countries around the world. The program showcases the best work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companuies, television stations, interactive agencies and corporate video departments in the world.

Virginia's award-winning video, which is designed to promote simple changes in behavior that strengthen the security of Commonwealth information, was produced in-house by VITA staff and made available at no charge to any state entity. Agencies have been and are encourged to share the video with their staffs; Information Security Officers have been provided DVDs and the video is also posted on the state's main YouTube channel.

Learn more about the Telly Awards

Watch the video

The February issue of the VITA Service Bulletin features information about a new agreement with NAVTEQ which provides free access by Virginia state and local governments to the company's GIS datasets through the Virginia Geographic Information Network, and a free upcoming virtual conference addressing Web 2.0 technology.

“PlugGED In” is an initiative to prepare high school dropouts for entry-level technology jobs while they prepare for the GED tests. The program will start as a pilot program in Southwest Virginia, where census data shows a high percentage of working-age adults without a high school-level credential. Attending on behalf of the Governor, Virginia Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra joined U.S. Senator Jim Webb for today’s announcement at an event in Russell County.

Read the Governor's news release

The Pew Center on the States’ Government Performance Project released a new report that offers a fresh perspective on the states’ economic crisis. “Trade-off Time: How Four States Continue to Deliver,” is designed to provide policy makers and program managers with budget decision-making lessons from their peers. Four states were profiled -- Indiana, Maryland, Utah, and Virginia – where decision-makers use performance information to identify budget and program reductions and new investments even in the face of daunting revenue and spending trends.

The February issue of Network News features comments from CIO Lem Stewart on network transformation, implementation of VITA's Customer Service Enhancement Plan and his recent report to the Information Technology Investment Board, recent activities of the IT Infrastructure Partnership, project manager training and upcoming meetings.

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The Commonwealth's Information Security Officers Advisory Group (ISOAG) meeting was held Jan. 28 with 99 participants from the executive branch (including higher education), judicial and legislative branches of government, independent agencies and localities. Keynote presentations included those by the Virginia Credit Union on Protecting Your Money as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Fighting the International Cyber Crime Syndicate. Other topics included Commonwealth Information Security Council participation, Partnership Assessment Activities, Security Guidelines, Malicious Trends and Security Legislation. The session was hosted by Commonwealth Chief Information Security Officer Peggy Ward and VITA. The next meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 25 from 1:00-4:00 p.m.

The January issue of Information Security Tips provides users information on challenge or secret questions. Knowledge-based authentication or the use of “Challenge or Secret Questions” helps computer users access their accounts when they forget their password. The questions are often designed as simple, easy-to-remember “prompts” that only the authorized user should be able to answer. While these systems are a great convenience for the end user, they are very weak from a security perspective.

The January Service Bulletin features highlights from a "VITA in Review" presentation that CIO Lem Stewart recently made to the Commonwealth Information Technology Investment Board as well as various committees of the General Assembly.

Read the January Service Bulletin

The Information Technology Investment Board will meet on Thursday, Jan. 15, at the Commonwealth Enterprise Solutions Center (CESC), 11751 Meadowville Lane, Chester VA 23836. Please note that the original agenda posted for the meeting has changed. The morning session will begin with a roll call; the board then is expected to go into closed session. The afternoon session will begin at 12:30 p.m. and will be open.

Check meetings dates and times

Read meeting materials

The January issue of Network News features information about CIO Lem Stewart's recent reports to JLARC and JCOTS, 2009 Information Technology Investment Board meeting schedule, recent activities of the IT Infrastructure Partnership, AITR and project manager training and upcoming meetings.

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