2021-2022 Annual Report

Executive Summary

A successful technology enterprise must be both strong and flexible, able to stand firm and withstand challenges such as cyber attacks or pandemics and, at the same time, nimbly adjust to accommodate constantly changing needs and circumstances. When that enterprise serves an entire state, the stakes are high. Citizens and the government agencies that serve them must be able to rely on the technology in place to make government more accessible, responsive, accountable, and secure.

North Dakota’s technology enterprise proved ready and resilient in 2021, even as intensive challenges continued. The state moved forward with initiatives to bolster state networks and strengthen security, while also meeting citizen’s needs for information and services.

NDIT is being asked to help lead the state’s efforts to reinvent government through technology, to provide policy guidance and expertise and to identify opportunities to help agencies

do business as effectively and efficiently as possible – to ask “how might we”? by identifying emerging technologies to help us lead the nation as a world-class service provider.

In efforts to work with all customers of North Dakota across all government levels, as well as our customers in Higher Education, K-12, cities, and counties, our organization has adopted three top level objectives:

1. Deploy a world class government experience

2. Secure all government held data in America

3. Deliver the most efficient government services in America

Shawn Riley Chief Information Officer

We continue to maintain focus on serving North Dakotans, protecting state systems and data, and supporting state agencies’ in their use of technology. You will find more about those efforts, along with the state’s technology accomplishments and activities in the 20212022 NDIT Annual Report.

I hope you find the report informative as we attempt to meet our purpose to empower people, improve lives, and inspire success across the state of North Dakota.

Shawn Riley CIO

NDIT

People Technology Process

Three keys to people success:

•Skills: People with the right skills, experience, and attitude for the job at hand.

•Communication: There’s no such thing as overcommunication

•Relationship Building and Buy-in: Relationships with stakeholders.

•Understand the fit: People should understand the process..

•Start at the beginning: It’s important to take a step back and identify first steps.

•Measure:what metrics need to be tracked.

•Review: Review progress toward your goals.

•Technology use cases: People need to understand how technology will make it easier.

•Knowledge: Training to ensure that people understand how to use the technology.

•Keep it simple: Too much can be overwhelming and compromise efficiency.

The People, Process, Technology Framework is used to assess and improve organizational performance. It works on the premise that organizations are made of three elements: people, processes, and technology.

To achieve success, NDIT strives to create a balance between these three elements.

People

NDIT and Department Public Instruction collaborated with Microsoft Teals to provide leadership for the Ft. Yates Middle School Hour of Code event that included cultural connections and resources focused on computer science/cybersecurity. School administration and staff worked with EduTech, Microsoft TEALS and ND DPI to provide coding activities to each grade level, highlighting cultural facets and indigenous connections to CS and Cyber.

Education Partnerships

The Cyber Madness team was recognized for developing and delivering the first-ofits-kind high school state championship for cybersecurity and creating valuable opportunities for our students and future workforce to explore the cybersecurity industry. Cyber Madness is a joint effort of NDCTE, the Department of Public Instruction, EduTech and North Dakota Information Technology.

Tribal partnerships began with NDCA including United Tribes Technical College and the Northern Plains Oyate in 2019. The Native American Development Center and First People’s Fund of South Dakota partnered with NDCA to host “Train the Trainers”, a program geared to Native artists to provide leadership and administrative training in February 2022.

The website, Find the Good Life, in North Dakota was refreshed and is the latest talent attraction and marketing campaign dedicated to informing people outside of North Dakota about job opportunities and quality of life, with an emphasis on connecting people to opportunities in rural areas. The website now includes a relocation help desk that provides a personalized relocation assistance service for prospective residents.

People

The Attorney General’s office in collaboration with NDIT made several changes and additions to the ND Sex Offender Website to allow for easier searching and use by the public.

Educator Success MultiState 2,780 Students

The second annual IgniteND conference took place in June 2022, partnering with ND Department of Public Instruction and Bismarck State College. This 3-day conference was an opportunity for educators, administrators and technology coordinators to engage on 21st century education topics – including CS and Cybersecurity as foundational for success in our global, digital economy.

Multiple states have joined the Joint Cybersecurity Operations Command Center (J-CSOC), providing the ability for rapid exchange of threat intel, collaboration and team work regarding indicators of compromise. Held first ever national multi-state tabletop exercise with state members.

In late fall 2021, schools requested NDIT to assist in providing students and teachers with Digital Citizenship tools. EduTech teamed up with the ND Bureau of Criminal Investigation to create a Digital Citizenship program. Topics include Cyber Bullying, Cybersecurity, Sexting, the Law involving Minors, and more. From Launch date of Nov. 4, 2021 - June 30, 2022, this program has already positively impacted 2,780 students, 200 educators in 26 schools, 21 districts.

Process

Tourism enhanced ndtourism.com to improve the functionality of the website and the partner portal for the state partners.

NDIT worked with Commerce to build webforms, create redirects, and establish new processes within the new website. Since the launch of the website on May 24, 2022 to July 27, 2022, traffic has increased by 475%. Pageviews have also increased by 262%.

The ND Health Care Directive Registry is an easily accessible electronic location to store health care directive records. It is also available anywhere, no matter where the patient is located. The ND Health Care Directive Registry gives the patient access to their record wherever they have need.

The End User Compute & Collaboration team was streamlined into four key service areas: Hardware Services, Incident Management, Project & Process Improvement, and Collaboration Technologies.

Automated the End User Compute & Collaboration process of

tagged computer equipment.

Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) and NDIT implemented a AI data warehouse to store old electronic medical record data for archival purposes as part of the system transition to MyAvatar. This allowed efficient data storage as well as accessibility.

The eHealth Exchange framework and Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), and private partners collaborated. Participating healthcare providers can now securely query a patient’s medical history from both DoD and VA facilities.

NDIT worked with the Aeronautics commission to improve data accuracy by cross referencing multiple databases to ensure the accuracy of data utilized in aircraft registration database (AIMS) better quality decision making by program administrators.

surplussing

Process

NDIT developed a seasonal influenza predictive model for ND Department of Health (DOH) to help predict magnitude and timing of influenza activity.

NDIT implemented changes to utilize the Electronic Document Exchange (EDE) which allows Department of Human Services (DHS) Child Support staff to exchange electronic documents with their counterparts in other states.

NDIT integrated an Organizational Change Management framework into Major IT Processes. The governor’s office, in conjunction with the Change Management Executive Steering Committee, set the goal of ensuring that all major IT projects would be utilizing a structured change management approach by the end of 2022.

NDIT developed a public-facing data dashboard for ND Rent Help (DHS administered), displaying current program metrics.

The Department of Human Services Division of Child and Family Services (CFS) provides critical and complex services to North Dakota families in need. To help CFS track a wide variety of important indicators, NDIT’s Data Science and Analytics Team built a self-service dashboard that allows staff to check over 50 different essential data points for any desired date range needed. This dashboard provides the ability to select values to further break down details such as county subtotals, age groups, and client counts. Organizing dozens of reports into a central location through this project greatly enhanced staff ability to access important data points.

NDIT launches the first state-developed digital credential publishing application for high school transcripts as a verifiable credential. It allows any high school graduate to present their transcript to an educational institution or employer digitally. Users of the technology can have all their degrees, certifications, badges and skills located in one accessible and secure location.

Technology

NDIT installed Wifi to upgrade infrastructure at ND State Pen to enhance services within the facility. NDIT also completed the security upgrades to HRCC buildings to include door access, control system, camera system and key control systems.

NDIT oversaw the successful implementation of the Game and Fish’s electronic posting system. Provide sportsmen tools and technologies to facilitate communications and hunting access.

NDIT investigated, piloted, and installed cost effective technology replacements for interactive video equipment within courtrooms and court facilities. Old equipment was approaching end of life.

NDIT and the ND Department of Transportation created one central location for DOT staff and public to access information about structures.

School for the Deaf- NDIT improved on-campus wifi and upgraded on/off campus equipment for the School for the Deaf, as needed, to help better serve the deaf/hard of hearing.

NDIT supported the website build for gaming distributors to enter their tax information and gaming purchases.

21,000 KnowBe4 licenses were allocated to Partners on StageNet.

EduTech partnered with ND Department of Public Instruction to announce ClassLink as a statewide tool. ClassLink increases security by creating personalized single sign-on dashboards for each student and teacher to connect to the tools they useon any device. Classlink will improve security, classroom efficiency, distance learning and parent supports.

NDIT installed and replaced network cabling, network racking, wireless access points and switches for Public Libraries.

NDIT worked with BND and Chase to establish a program which allows banks and credit unions to submit payments for their assessments and various application fees electronically via ACH. Approximately 17% of financial institutions submitted their assessment payments electronically for the June 2022 period.

Approximately 17% of financial institutions submitted their assessment payments electronically for the June 2022 period.

NDIT worked with ND Department of Transportation to upgrade the Driver’s License Online Services and Motor Vehicle web applications to the new Legend webservices. This change moves the applications databases off the mainframe.

NDIT performed a Quarterly Pen test of BND’s environment to discover exploitable vulnerabilities.

Technology

The North Dakota Information Technology Cybersecurity Team has worked tirelessly to protect and defend the State of North Dakota from adversaries that would do us harm.

Prevented or detected 822,000,000 network threats.

Defended against more than 4,000,000 malware, phishing, and spam messages.

Defend 252,000+ people every day.

Provided over 25 Emerging Threat Briefings to State Stakeholders.

Investigated over 2,000,000 security alerts.

Resolved over 51,000 security incidents.

Cyber Strategic Initiatives

•Facilitating cybersecurity workforce development by creating a cybersecurity apprenticeship through the Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship program.

•Developing a Whole-of-State Cybersecurity Plan and creating a statewide Task Force to prioritize the use of $2.2M in funds available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

•Improving cybersecurity collaboration with other states by growing membership of the Joint-Cyber Security Operations Center (J-CSOC) to 11 states across the nation.

•Expanding our security services to more of our State, K12, and Political Subdivision customers including a 36% increase in coverage of Advanced Endpoint Protection software.

Cloud Smart

Data utilization starts with infrastructure. NDIT will choose the right cloud solution that best aligns with the needs of the State and our customers; whether that be public cloud, private cloud, or software as a service in the cloud. Today, we see continuous movement towards Platform as a Service, Software as a Service, rather than moving solutions to the cloud as-is.

Automation

Through a variety of collaborative efforts, NDIT has automated over 6M minutes of work for all State Platforms as well as specific automations for NDIT and HHS with Robotic Process Automation.Currently in discovery and planning phase with Veteran’s Affairs to automate a manual process of taking information from forms and updating in an unrelated website.

Banking Portal

ND Department of Financial Institutions has been working with NDIT since 2017 on the development of a new records management system and banking portal. The banking portal allows the state-chartered banks, trust companies, and credit unions to securely submit applications, annual forms, and semiannual assessments electronically.

SIRN

Tower Count Increasing from 45 to 150 and 1 additional technician has been added per region of the state to support tower growth.

Financial Measures

Rate Comparisons

The following states have comparable rates to North Dakota Information Technology.

South Dakota

South Dakota Bureau of Information and Telecommunnicationshttps://bit.sd.gov/

Minnesota

Minnesota IT Serviceshttps://mn.gov/mnit/government/services/rates/

Wyoming

Wyoming Department of Enterprise Serviceshttps://ets.wyo.gov/

Montana

Montana State Information Technology Services Divisionhttps://sitsd.mt.gov/

Performance Measures Records Management

Records Management programs have been implemented in 102 state and local government agencies, higher education institutions, boards, and commissions. Last year, state agencies, local government offices, and higher education institutions disposed of 8,792.12 cubic feet of records that satisfied their retention requirements. This savings in storage space, equipment, and related salaries resulted in a cost avoidance of $3,376,876.43 For the entities reporting a volume of electronic records, 28 TB were disposed for a cost avoidance of $34,323.57.

The Records Management staff also consults with agencies on a regular basis to review their records management program and practices and offer recommendations to enhance their current processes and provide guidance on records management best practices.

NDIT is implementing a Data Governance Program which will provide structured guidance for managing the entire life cycle of records and information for State Agencies and other State entities. This will include intake, classification, security, storage, and disposition guidance and best practices to improve efficiency, reduce risk and create more consistency in the management of records and other data across state government.

NDIT is forming an initiative to enhance current data loss prevention and data privacy practices to ensure data is properly classified and protected when sent through email or other data sharing channels.

The State of North Dakota should implement an email archiving system to systematically classify email records and apply the appropriate retention policy. The State should also create policy and guidance around records and other data stored in cloud-based software applications such as Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive that would address what can be stored in these programs and how retention on those items will be managed.