From Liana Bailey-Crimmins, State CIO and CDT Director December 21, 2023 – The holiday season is a time of giving through a public servant’s heart. It’s also a time to show gratitude for a year filled with success and challenges that were difficult, but we were able to overcome and re-energize as we look towards another year of making a difference and improving Californian lives through technology and cyber security advancements ..read more

A message from Liana Bailey-Crimmins, State CIO and CDT Director December 14, 2023 – On December 12, the California Department of Technology (CDT) released its draft Statewide Digital Equity Plan, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at ensuring every Californian has equitable access to reap the benefits of the digital world. The plan will position the state to receive an allocation of the Digital Equity Capacity Grant funded by the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 that can help close the digital divide for good.   ..read more

December 14, 2022 – CDT’s annual Ovation Award ceremony was held December 12. The virtual ceremony recognized the accomplishments of individuals and groups within the Department whose exceptional efforts have helped secure better services for Californians. Award categories included Performance Excellence, Leadership, Innovation, Organizational Enhancement, Customer Service, Team Excellence and Partnership.  View the full list of award winners who were honored this year.   PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE AWARDNicholas Moody, IT Associate, Security Operations Center / Security Solutions Admin LEADE ..read more

December 14, 2022 – Each January 15, CDT publishes an annual report that measures the performance of the State IT community—and 2023 was a year filled with everything from developing a Digital ID ecosystem to creating a statewide Digital Strategy to stabilizing critical services. The 2023 report will highlight California’s Security Operations Center that blocks over 1 billion malicious probes each day, the State’s new Cloud Smart services, the launch of the State Website Emergency Alert and how, through historic partnerships the Middle-Mile Initiative, the backbone of the administration’s Bro ..read more

A message from Jonathan Porat, State Chief Technology Officer November 29, 2023 – 10 years ago, the California Department of Technology (CDT) released its last major Cloud computing policy. CDT’s last Cloud Policy relied on a “Cloud First” mindset. Back then “The Cloud” was an exciting alternative to outmoded infrastructure solutions. State entities were excited about the possibilities of this generally new technology and focus was on moving to the cloud ..read more

November 29, 2023 – During the year, CDT’s Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative secured contracts to construct, lease, and purchase approximately 83% of the Middle-Mile Broadband Network (MMBN), resulting in faster construction and access to critical middle-mile connection points. Opportunities exist for additional provider and community partnerships to bring middle-mile connections to more communities sooner. To expedite the delivery of the MMBN, CDT released a second Request for Innovative Ideas (RFI²) solicitation, a procurement vehicle that seeks innovative ideas to solve a well-defined ..read more

November 29, 2023 – California State Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Vitaliy Panych was among a select group of government and industry security professionals recently recognized with a 2023 CyberScoop 50 award for his critical role in Government Leadership by the Scoop News Group. The honor is bestowed on security leaders responsible for protecting vital networks, information, and critical infrastructure.    Panych was appointed State CISO by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2021. Prior to his appointment, he had been serving in an acting capacity for nearly 2 years ..read more

A message from Vitaliy Panych, State Chief Information Security Officer October 23, 2023 – On October 12, the 7th California Cybersecurity Education Summit showcased our united efforts to secure Californians’ privacy by attracting more than 700 dedicated technology and cybersecurity leaders from the public and private sectors. It’s important to note that October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, serving as an annual reminder that organizations and individuals alike have a vital role in safeguarding our California way of life by putting “people first and security always.”  Califo ..read more

October 23, 2023 – Governor Gavin Newsom’s proclamation that October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month underscores the state’s commitment to promoting security and protecting residents in an evolving digital landscape. It serves as a reminder that everyone shares a responsibility to safeguard their digital assets and personal information.  ..read more

October 23, 2023 – CDT is preparing to launch the initial phase of the Cloud Smart-driven California Cloud Services Program. This new approach will help the departments work with customers to tailor solutions that best meet individual department cloud goals and business objectives. This approach is expected to improve cyber security, cloud architecture, workforce readiness, and cost-effectiveness of California’s Cloud services.   CDT’s new California Cloud Services Assessment (CCSA) is scheduled to launch at the end of October and will partner customers with knowledgeable architects to h ..read more