In 2004, 14 cabinet agencies were consolidated into 9 Executive Cabinets. The reorganization of technology figured prominently in the effort to improve efficiency. The position of Commissioner of Technology was created, and the former Governor's Office of Technology was reorganized under the Finance and Administration Cabinet and given the broad charge of improving efficiency in IT. The name of the office was changed to the Commonwealth Office of Technology (COT) to reflect the increased role and broader vision for the office.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky uses information technology (IT) to improve the efficiency of state government and the delivery of services to Kentucky citizens. Investment in IT services represents a significant investment for the Commonwealth, in terms of funding for equipment, software, services and personnel. It is the responsibility of the Commissioner of Technology to ensure the wise management of the Commonwealth's investment in IT. While COT has statutory authority and responsibility for the management of the state’s information technology as is clearly established in KRS 11.505 to 11.511, it has historically limited its exercise of that authority to recommending standards for equipment, software and information technology planning, budgeting, and spending to state agencies.
The strategic importance of information technology to the Commonwealth of Kentucky is well recognized, and is responsible for COT's efforts to consolidate the state's technology resources. Consolidation of information technology will create a state government environment that is efficient and utilizes technology to the fullest.
Business Drivers for IT in Kentucky
- Improve Kentucky's Position in the Digital Economy
To improve Kentucky's position in the 21st century digital economy and grow the number of high-tech companies in Kentucky, the state must increase both the number of Kentucky households with computers and its citizen use of the Internet. To achieve these worthy objectives Kentucky must: Increase computer use of our citizens, increase the level and number of eGovernment offerings available for citizens to use, and increase the availability and affordability of broadband in the state.
- Reduce Costs and Improve Efficiency
IT costs are rising at an unprecedented rate as demand for IT services increases. While the state's current budget included more IT spending than any previous budget, the increase in spending alone cannot meet the rising demand. To gain the maximum benefits from our IT expenditures we must make wise IT investments and improve the efficiency of our service delivery. This is critical since it can help avoid the need for Cabinets to divert an ever-increasing percentage of operating expenses from their core businesses to fund IT operations.
- Improve IT Services
Just as Kentucky is striving to offer more offerings of eGovernment applications for citizen and business use, we must improve the level of IT services we provide to our customers, the rest of state government. Bringing more services to employees in the form of simpler, more interoperable systems, standard equipment and software interfaces, web based applications, self-service offerings, digital signatures, more responsive workflow, and quicker and predictive response to desktop computer and network problems will lead directly to improvements in productivity, job satisfaction and delivery of government services to citizens.
- Enhance IT Security
The increasing complexity and proliferation of computing systems and the increasing reliance on data requires a new approach to security. Numerous Federal laws have been enacted in recent years to ensure that we properly safeguard information accumulated in government and private computer systems. The cost of losing or losing access to data, even for short periods of time, continues to rise. Threats include phishing, denial of service, attacks on firewalls, viruses, spyware, theft of service and records, inappropriate use of government networks, and spam. The largest threat remains inappropriate use and disregard for established procedures by our own employees. We must have a strong centrally managed defense in the form of network security, identity management, controlled role-based access to applications and data stores, remote backup of our storage and applications, and controls on physical access to the locations where data is stored and processed.
As we look to meet the challenges posed by these business drivers, we must consider what we are best able to execute from a central IT organization. The following are our identified core competencies:
- Provide a Voice for Technology
- Information Security
- Infrastructure Management
- Project Management and Governance, including establishing standards for integration and interoperability
- Enterprise Application Development
- Data Management and Integration
COT is an organization of almost 500 employees and 100 contractors who are committed to the success of the Commonwealth and unified by a common set of core values that outline and define our organizational beliefs. We all are dedicated to our one common goal, to be the leader in the use of information technology to enhance government services, improve decision making, promote efficiency and eliminate waste.
COT has offices throughout Frankfort and has employees spread over the commonwealth to maintain our Kentucky Wireless Network System (KYWINS) infrastructure and the critical Kentucky Emergency Warning System (KEWS).