Cal Fire would like to spend $3 million to boost its IT staffing levels in order to address a "significant threat of system failures" and protect against cyberattacks, according to state documents.
Cal Fire, which is formally known as the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, is proposing 14 new staff positions that would start in July 2016. Cal Fire reports that it currently employs 15 IT support personnel at field offices and five at its Sacramento headquarters; there were a total 74 IT positions within Cal Fire in 2015. Cal Fire wrote that it does not presently have staff exclusively dedicated to data security or project management.
Cal Fire did not immediately respond to Techwire's request Tuesday and Wednesday for comment.
In it staff augmentation proposal, Cal Fire said many of its IT staff are drawn away during emergency incidents and it does not have a surge capability or the staffing levels in order to backfill. Consequently, unresolved IT issues can continue for days or weeks.
The department said it also needs to start planning for the procurement of a CAD replacement system, but it doesn't have enough personnel to work on the project. The current system is 15 years old and is at "long-term risk," the department wrote.
Cal Fire also reports that it currently does not have enough technical expertise to manage its public website, "which has caused failures in the past."
If the state approves the 14 new positions, Cal Fire would hire a combination of system analysts, data processing managers and software specialists.
Cal Fire acquired IT services from Global Blue DVBE of Rocklin, Calif., through a $3.2 million Master Service Agreement for the purpose of business transformation work, according to state documents from Jan. 6.
Cal Fire has been in the headlines over the last year amid allegations of sexual misconduct, exam cheating and other misdeeds. In his 2016-17 budget plan, Gov. Jerry Brown proposed a new $4.4 million watchdog unit for Cal Fire.
