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PA Earns National Technology Award for Efficient, Shared Services

Posted on: Monday, 26 October 2009, 15:30 CDT

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania's IT shared services initiative was one of only 10 efforts awarded for outstanding achievement in information technology in state government by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, or NASCIO, Governor Edward G. Rendell said today.

"We've been working hard to advance technology and improve services to Pennsylvania citizens in cost-effective and efficient ways," said Governor Rendell. "It's gratifying to receive such recognition for our creative use of IT, especially in such challenging economic times."

NASCIO gives awards annually to states which have implemented programs that exemplify best practices, support the public policy goals and duties of state leaders, represent an innovative use of existing and new technology, provide cost-effective service to citizens and are transferable to other agencies or units of government.

The Governor's Office of Administration (OA) provides policy direction, management services and technology infrastructure to all agencies under the Governor's jurisdiction, including the Department of Public Welfare (DPW). DPW provides essential services to more than two million state residents and the IT applications used to administer the agency's core programs are very complex.

DPW has fully embraced shared services and has partnered with OA to implement best practices in policy, processes, governance, workforce development and change management to reduce costs and increase efficiency.

"We strive to ensure that every dollar and every personnel hour invested in state government technology achieves the greatest possible outcome," said Brenda Orth, the state's chief information officer. "I applaud DPW for finding innovative ways to share IT services across multiple business areas. Vulnerable citizens are better served because of DPW's creativity and flexibility."

Through its use of IT shared services, DPW is able to shift technical experts across functions as demands for services fluctuate. IT resources are no longer identified as fixed costs to a particular function -- whether or not an immediate need exists for their services. Instead, IT resources are now used when and where they are needed most.

"Our IT shared services initiative has allowed us to improve service while saving taxpayer dollars through more efficient use of consolidated IT resources," said Terry Shuchart, chief information officer for state departments of Public Welfare and Insurance. "We are honored by this recognition from NASCIO and will continue our goal to provide superior service to the citizens of Pennsylvania."

In total, Pennsylvania's shared services initiatives have resulted in savings of $317 million with an additional $240 million expected over the next five years.

Pennsylvania was also a finalist for improving information security and privacy in state government for its application certification and accreditation strategy, known as (CA)2, to prevent the increasing number of application-based attacks.

(CA)2 has identified critical vulnerabilities that -- if not corrected -- could have been exploited, leading to identity theft and the spread of malicious code. By eliminating these vulnerabilities, the commonwealth prevented data leakage, identity theft and theft of services, and saved $31.5 million. (CA)2 was one of 30 finalists from 117 submissions.

Award recipients were announced during NASCIO's annual conference. This year marks the 21st year NASCIO has recognized IT projects in state governments.

For a complete description of the IT Shared Services and (CA)2 initiatives, visit the NASCIO Web site at www.nascio.org/awards.

Media contacts: Stacey Witalec, DPW; 717- 787-4592 Nancy Beckwith, OA; 717-346-2194 Mia DeVane, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

Source: PR Newswire

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