DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

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, or St. Mary's College of Maryland.

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

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).

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

OFFICE OF SECRETARY

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 Procurement Advisory Council; and the Interdepartmental Advisory Committee on Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs.

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.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ADVISORY COUNCIL
Composed of chief information officers from all State agencies, the Information Technology Advisory Council meets monthly to plan Maryland's technology initiatives. The Council is chaired by the Secretary of Information Technology.

STATEWIDE INTEROPERABILITY RADIO CONTROL BOARD
In June 2014, the Statewide Interoperability Radio Control Board was established in the Department of Information Technology (Chapter 117, Acts of 2014).

The Board coordinates the operation and maintenance of the Statewide Public Safety Interoperability Radio System, also known as Maryland FIRST. The System is a 700 MHz radio system that connects Maryland's first responders on one secure radio system. For the System, the Board establishes standard operating procedures, quality of service standards, and maintenace guidelines. The Board also is responsible for coordinating, adding, and removing System users; and resolving conflicts among users.

To the Governor and General Assembly, the Board recommends funding levels and resources needed for the Statewide Interoperability Radio Control Board System. The Board also negotiates use agreements with the federal government, neighboring states, and the District of Columbia.

User working groups advise the 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.

ADMINISTRATION

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

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

OPERATIONS

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

APPLICATION MANAGEMENT

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 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.

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.

GOVERNOR'S ADVISORY BOARD FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS RELAY
The Governor's Advisory Board for Telecommunications Relay formed in 1987 as the Telecommunications for Disabled Individuals Board within the Department of Human Resources (Chapter 525, Acts of 1987). Reorganized under its present name, the Board transferred to the Department of General Services in 1991 (Chapter 598, Acts of 1991). The Board joined the Department of Budget and Management in 1996, and the Department of Information Technology in July 2008.

In consultation with the Governor's Advisory Board for Telecommunications Relay, the Department maintains the Maryland Relay Service.

The Board's twelve members are appointed by the Governor who names the chair. Members serve three-year terms (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, secs. 3A-502 through 3A-506).

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.

INFRASTRUCTURE

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.

Infrastructure implements and operates statewide networks such as networkMaryland and the State's wireless microwave and radio systems. It ensures 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.

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

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.

STATEWIDE SECURITY SERVICES

Security Services sets policy and establishes standards for the secure use of the State's information technology resources. To State agencies, Security Services provides guidance and education on security awareness, assists in preparing disaster recovery plans, and grants login access to the Department's secure websites and applications, such as the Financial Management Information System.

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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