DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

[photo, 100 Community Place, Crownsville, Maryland] The main functions of the Department of Information Technology began within State government in February 1993, when the Governor established the position of Chief of Information Technology, along with the Information Technology Board, within the Department of Budget and Fiscal Planning (Executive Order 01.01.1993.06). In July 1993, certain additional responsibilities for information technology were assigned by statute to the Department of Budget and Fiscal Planning (Chapter 120, Acts of 1993). To further oversee these duties, the Office of Information Technology was created within the Department of Budget and Management in 1996. The Office of Information Technology reformed as the Department of Information Technology in July 2008 (Chapter 9, Acts of 2008; Code State Finance & Procurement Article, secs. 3A-101 through 3A-606).

State information technology policy is the responsibility of the Department of Information Technology. The Department develops, maintains, revises, and enforces information technology policies, procedures, and standards throughout State government. The Department, however, does not have authority over or responsibility for the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, the Maryland Port Administration, or the Maryland Stadium Authority (Chapter 150, Acts of 2018).

100 Community Place, Crownsville, Maryland, July 2016. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

All information technology, and telecommunications systems and devices used by State agencies are coordinated, purchased, and managed by the Department.

To the Governor and all units of State government, the Department provides technical assistance, advice, and recommendations concerning information technology. Further, the Department annually reviews the project plans of State agencies for making their services and information available to the public on-line.

The Statewide Information Technology Master Plan is developed and maintained by the Department. The Plan is the basis for the management and direction of information technology within the Executive Branch of State government. The Plan covers all aspects of information technology, including information management, data processing, and telecommunications (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, secs. 3A-304 through 3A-307).

The Major Information Technology Development Project Fund is managed by the Department. The purpose of the Fund is to support major information technology development projects for Executive Branch agencies and commissions (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, sec. 3A-309).

The Department's Office of Security Management directs, coordinates, and implements all cybersecurity strategy and policy for the Executive Branch of State government (Executive Order 01.01.2019.07).

Formerly located at 45 Calvert Street, Annapolis, the Department moved to 100 Community Place in Crownsville, Maryland, in July 2016.

OFFICE OF SECRETARY

100 Community Place, Crownsville, MD 21032

With Senate advice and consent, the Secretary of Information Technology is appointed by the Governor. The Secretary serves on the Governor's Executive Council, and chairs the Information Technology Advisory Council, the Statewide Interoperability Radio Control Board, and the Council on Open Data. The Secretary also serves on the Board of Directors, Assistive Technology Loan Program; the Criminal Justice Information Advisory Board; the Maryland Cybersecurity Council; the Management Committee of the EMaryland Application Service Provider Consortium; the Maryland Green Purchasing Committee; the Health and Human Services Referral Board; the Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee; the Commission to Advance Next Generation 9-1-1 Across Maryland; the Procurement Advisory Council; the Interdepartmental Advisory Committee on Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs; and the Student Data Privacy Council.

Formerly, the Department's work had been organized under Administration, and Operations. In April 2015, however, reorganization aligned Department units under the Chief of Staff, and the Chief Operating Officer. In November 2016, departmental units again were placed under Administration and Operations.

Reporting directly to the Secretary are offices for communications, counsel, and rural broadband. The Department is assisted by the Information Technology Advisory Council, and the Statewide Interoperability Radio Control Board.

OFFICE OF RURAL BROADBAND
In June 2017, the Office of Rural Broadband was created by the Governor (Executive Order 01.01.2017.14).

The Office assists local Maryland jurisdictions in improving their access to high-speed internet. Moreover, the Office is to identify sources of funds for these services, including federal funds, and help local governments apply for them.

In April 2018, demonstration projects on the Eastern Shore and in Western Maryland were completed and came under the oversight of the Office. In addition, the Office works to support and complement the assessments, evaluations, studies, and other work of the Task Force on Rural Internet, Broadband, Wireless, and Cellular Service, and act consistently with the goals and purposes of the Connecting Rural Maryland Act of 2017 (Chapters 620 & 621, Acts of 2017).

ADMINISTRATION

Beginning in April 2015, the Chief of Staff was responsible for Administration, and Social Media and Digital Engagement. Following a February 2016 restructuring, the Chief of Staff oversaw DoIT Procurement and Contract Management, Enterprise Program Management, and Finance. Briefly, Administration was headed by an Assistant Secretary, who oversaw the Resource Share Program, as well as DoIT Procurement and Contract Management, Enterprise Program Management, and Finance, beginning in November 2016. In August 2018, those units once again were placed under the Chief of Staff.
ENTERPRISE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
Enterprise Program Management formed under State Information Technology as Contracts and Project Management in July 2002, and transferred to Strategic Planning as the Project Management Office in July 2005. It was renamed the Project Oversight Office in July 2010, and the Project Management Office in April 2015. In February 2016, it was restructured under its present name.

The Office helps State agencies acquire information technology services and products. The Office also manages the Major Information Technology Project Development Fund.

OPERATIONS

Headed by an Assistant Secretary, Operations reformed in January 2017 to oversee the units formerly under the Chief Operating Officer.

Operations is responsible for Application Management; Information Technology Service Management; Infrastructure; Statewide Interoperable Communications; and Statewide Security Services.

APPLICATION MANAGEMENT

100 Community Place, Crownsville, MD 21032

In June 1999, Application Management formed as Application Systems Management within the Department of Budget and Management, and transferred to the Department of Information Technology in July 2008. In April 2015, it reorganized under its present name.

Application Management designs, develops, implements, maintains, and operates a fully integrated statewide administrative systems for accounting, budgeting, financial management, personnel, and other administrative functions. It oversees Application Development; E-mail and Identity Management; Enterprise Resource Planning; Geospatial Services; Telecommunications Access of Maryland; and Web and eGov. Within Application Management, the Maryland Statewide Phone Directory also is maintained and updated.

The State Geographic Information Officer is appointed by the Secretary of Information Technology.

ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING
In 1991, Enterprise Resource Planning organized initially as Financial Management Information Systems (FMIS), which created a new, high-technology, administrative management system for State government. In 1996, it was placed under the Office of Information Technology, and in July 2008 moved to the Department of Information Technology. Under Application Systems Management, it reformed as Support Technical and Financial Management Information Systems in February 2009 and as Enterprise Resource Planning in April 2015.

Enterprise Resource Planning is responsible for computer applications that manage the system of State government purchasing, accounting, payroll, personnel, and budgeting.

GEOSPATIAL SERVICES
In April 2015, Geospatial Services formed under Application Management.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACCESS OF MARYLAND
301 West Preston St., Suite 1008-A, Baltimore, MD 21201 - 2305

[photo, 301 West Preston St., Baltimore, Maryland] Telecommunications Access of Maryland started in 1988 as the Telecommunications for Disabled Individuals Program within the Department of Human Resources. In 1990, the federal Americans with Disabilities Act required all states to have a telecommunications relay system operating by July 1993. In 1991, Maryland's Program was renamed as Telecommunications Access of Maryland and transferred to the Department of General Services (Chapter 598, Acts of 1991). In 1996, it moved to the Department of Budget and Management.


301 West Preston St., Baltimore, Maryland, November 2003. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

In 1997, the Department of Budget and Management was authorized to establish a telecommunication and computer network in Maryland (Chapter 722, Acts of 1997). The network is accessible through direct connection and through local intra-LATA (local access & transport areas) telecommunications to State and local governments and public and private educational institutions in Maryland (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, sec. 3-705).

Formerly under Telecommunications, in January 2005, Telecommunications Access of Maryland moved under the Chief of Information Technology within the Department of Budget and Management. In July 2008, it transferred to the Office of Secretary within the Department of Information Technology, and in February 2009, was placed under Administration. In April 2015, Telecommunications Access of Maryland transferred to Infrastructure, and in February 2016, to Application Management.

The Maryland Relay Service was initiated by Telecommunications Access of Maryland in December 1991 to convey dual-party telephone messages for persons with disabilities. The Service enables a deaf person to communicate via a telecommunications device with an intermediary party who then verbally relays the message to a third party. For State residents who are deaf or have impaired hearing, speech, vision, or mobility, the Service makes telephone use possible 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

WEB & eGOV
100 Community Place, Crownsville, MD 21032

Origins of Web and eGov trace to the Department of Budget and Management, where Web Systems was established formally within the Office of Information Technology in July 2005. Web Systems became part of the Department of Information Technology in July 2008, and was placed under Operations in February 2009. In February 2015, Web Systems moved under Strategic Planning. In April 2015, Web Systems reformed as Web and eGov, and transferred to Application Management.

Web and eGov manages the State's Internet portal, which provides centralized on-line access to State agency websites for Maryland citizens. The Department's web presence also is managed by Web and eGov, which hosts certain statewide applications and community websites, and coordinates strategic initiatives, such as web branding.

[photo, 100 Community Place, Crownsville, Maryland]

INFRASTRUCTURE

100 Community Place, Crownsville, MD 21032

Infrastructure traces its origins to January 2005, when the Networks Division began within the Office of Information Technology under the Department of Budget and Management. The Division joined the Department of Information Technology in July 2008, and was placed under Operations in February 2009. Reorganized in April 2015, the Networks Division was renamed Infrastructure.

Critical communication infrastructure systems are maintained and supported by Infrastructure to improve broadband access for State agencies and critical local community institutions, such as schools, libraries, hospitals, and public safety agencies. These systems include construction of telecommunication towers; the maintenance and expansion of the State's communications fiber optic network, called networkMaryland; and a statewide radio communication system for first responders, called Maryland First.

100 Community Place, Crownsville, Maryland, July 2016. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

Statewide networks, such as networkMaryland and the State's wireless microwave and radio systems, are implemented and operated by Infrastructure to ensure that State agencies have a cost-effective means for transmitting data and mobile information. Infrastructure also manages the State's inventory of cellular phones and the contracts for activating and deactivating cell phones, pagers, and other wireless devices.

Under Infrastructure are Cloud Services; End-User Computing and Support; Hosting Centers and Transport; Network Operations; and Voice Systems.

CLOUD SERVICES
Under Infrastructure, Cloud Services organized first as Servers and Storage in April 2015. It became Cloud Services in November 2016.

END-USER COMPUTING & SUPPORT
End-User Computing and Support began as Customer Services under Enterprise Information Services. It became the Customer Service Center under Infrastructure in April 2015, and adopted its present name in February 2016.

This unit oversees Desktop Services and the Service Desk, which assists State agency users to resolve any difficulties they encounter using statewide computer applications, such as the Financial Management Information Systems. The Center provides on-line registration for training to use the Financial Management Information Systems, and maintains its Bulletin Board System, which provides daily updates on system problems, hour changes, batch cycle information, user group meetings, migrations, and other important information. In addition, The Center assists citizens using State agency websites maintained by the Department.

HOSTING CENTERS & TRANSPORT
Hosting Centers and Transport formed under Infrastructure in April 2015.

VOICE SYSTEMS
Voice Systems originated as Voice and Customer Services in 1996 under Telecommunications within the Department of Budget and Management, became Technical Support Services in 1997, and Voice and Technical Services in 2002. As Voice Services, it transferred from Telecommunications to Enterprise Information Services in November 2004. It was made part of the Networks Division in the Department of Information Technology in July 2008. When the Networks Division reformed as Infrastructure in April 2015, Voice Services was renamed Voice Systems and placed under Telecommunications and Network Services.

For State agencies, Voice Systems coordinates the development, procurement, management, and operation of telecommunication equipment and systems for voice applications. The office provides technical advice and consultation services to State and local governments. By developing policies and standards for the acquisition and use of voice systems, Voice Systems promotes the compatibility of telecommunications systems within State agencies.

STATEWIDE INTEROPERABLE COMMUNICATIONS

Within the Department of General Services, Statewide Interoperable Communications began as Radio Services. It became Wireless Communication Services in 1994, and transferred to the Department of Budget and Management in 1996. Under the Office of Information Technology, it was renamed Wireless Support Services in 1997, and Wireless Services in 2002. As part of the Networks Division, it moved to the Department of Information Technology in July 2008. Under the Chief Operating Officer, the Statewide Radio System was established as a separate division in April 2015. In December 2015, it adopted its present name.

Statewide Interoperable Communications promotes compatibility between radio systems; evaluates and promotes the sharing of resources, where appropriate; and procures wireless systems, including radio, microwave, cellular phone and paging systems. It also advises State agencies on planning, acquisition, and operation of radio systems; and provides radio frequency coordination assistance to State and local government.

OFFICE OF SECURITY MANAGEMENT

In June 2019, the Office of Security Management was authorized within the Department of Information Technology by the Governor (Executive Order 01.01.2019.07). The Office replaced Statewide Security Services.

The Office directs, coordinates, and implements the overall cybersecurity strategy and policy for the Executive Branch of State government. This strategy and policy relate to standards by which to categorize all information and information systems collected or maintained by or on behalf of each unit of State government; as well as to guidelines governing the types of information and information systems to be included in each category; and security requirements, i.e. management, operational and technical controls, for information and information systems in each category. They also concern assessing the categorization of systems and data, and the associated implementation of information security requirements; determining whether a system should be allowed to continue to operate if the State Chief Information Security Officer finds security vulnerabilities or deficiencies in the implementation of information security requirements.

The Office's role with regard to strategy and policy also involves the management of security awareness training for State employees; assisting to develop data management, data governance, and data specification standards to promote standardization and reduce risk; and assisting to develop a digital identity standard and specification applicable to all parties who communicate, interact, or conduct business with or on behalf of State government.

Directing the Office of Security Management is the State Chief Information Security Officer, who also chairs the Maryland Cybersecurity Coordinating Council.

ENTERPRISE PLANNING & ARCHITECTURE
Enterprise Planning and Architecture began as Enterprise Architecture. Formerly under Enterprise Information Services, it adopted its present name and moved under Statewide Security Services in April 2015.

This office works to develop technically compatible information technology systems statewide, in both State and local government. By setting standards and establishing guidelines for Maryland's technical architecture framework, State agencies are helped to develop more efficient and effective information technology structure.

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