Website Modernization Program
The Commonwealth of Virginia (COV) website modernization program
The COV website modernization program was created to ensure all state websites provide an accessible, trusted and secure experience for all Virginians. Specifically, the program looks to aid agencies in meeting the COV web standards.
View Enterprise Solutions Architecture (ESA) Web Systems Standard (effective Feb. 23, 2023)
Website Modernization Newsletter and Presentations
Newsletters
- Web Modernization Program - Issue 3
- Web Modernization Program - Issue 2
- Web Modernization Program - Issue 1
Presentations
- Website Modernization Program Update (AITR meeting March 2023)
Accessibility Training - Fundamental
View Foundations of Accessibility - General Introduction to Accessibility for the Agencies presentation (Feb. 16, 2023)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Governor’s Office wants Virginians to recognize state websites and have a consistent user and customer experience across agencies. We are partnering with the Governor’s Office and Secretary of Administration to achieve the goal of consistency, and ultimately, to modernize Commonwealth websites.
Executive branch and independent authorities that report to the governor are in scope for this program. All Commonwealth of Virginia agencies should be striving towards accessible, trusted and secure websites.
Yes, higher education is in scope as it is part of the executive branch and falls under the Secretary of Education. However, there is an exemption for the institutions that have gained independence with respect to technology under the Restructured Higher Education Financial and Administrative Operations Act (§ 23.1-1000 et seq.).
All public-facing websites and web applications are in scope.
The Web Mod PMO team will work with agencies to evaluate non-government websites (.COM, .EDU, etc.) on a case-by-case basis.
The Website Modernization Program Management Office (Web Mod PMO team), situated within VITA, will provide governance and oversight support for this effort. The team works closely with the VITA Web Technologists team for accessibility and design standards.
VITA’s Commonwealth security and risk management (CSRM) team will continue to be the governing entity for web security in the Commonwealth, with support from the Web Mod PMO team.
The Enterprise Architecture (EA) Standard establishes direction and technical requirements governing the acquisition, use and management of IT resources by executive branch agencies. View the EA Standard (EA225).
Web standards fall under Enterprise Solutions Architecture (ESA) requirements. The Commonwealth ESA provides the framework/model and methodology that supports the transition from silo-based, application-centric and agency-centric information technology investments to an enterprise approach where solutions are designed to be flexible. View the Web Systems Standard.
The Web Mod PMO team held a kick-off meeting with all agencies on Dec. 15, to discuss the effort. The team will coordinate deep dives with agencies through their customer account managers (CAMs), or directly for agencies without an assigned VITA CAM. The Web Mod PMO team will ensure remediation progress is tracked and reported.
Additional Website Modernization Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are available on the VITA service portal. Log in to visit the KB0019243 information.
Topics include: Website standards, Design standards, Accessibility standards, Security standards, Funding
For project support, please contact the Web Mod PMO team at webmod@vita.virginia.gov
