While Chris Cruz, chief deputy director of the California Department of Technology, has joked about Vision 2020 borrowing its name from optometry, he and the other representatives involved in building the plan are serious about its effects.
The plan, written under the leadership of state CIO Amy Tong, brought together stakeholders from multiple agencies, departments and job classifications in an effort to address California’s technology needs in a holistic way. Because of that effort, every state entity — and they're all affected by it — should find it applicable. Here is a representation of reactions from different segments of state service.
Chief Scott Howland, the CIO of the California Highway Patrol, prioritizes security and reflects on the document’s cybersecurity delivery suggestions.
“The speed at which cyber threats are changing, working together to protect the state’s IT assets has never been more important,” Howland wrote to Techwire.
The plan does call for a united IT community, to improve security and service delivery.
“A collaborative approach to security provides for more effective intelligence sharing, helps the State to become more proactive with security, better use its limited resources, and by working as a group become more effective in our response to ever-changing cyber threats," Howland wrote. "That collaboration will be further enhanced through developing a security-minded workforce by enlisting the contribution of every IT user in order to enhance the security of the state’s IT resources and data."
As the chair of the Select Committee on Cybersecurity, Assembly member Jacqui Irwin, D-Los Angeles, is also concerned about security.
“An update to the department’s Strategic Plan is welcomed, and I believe solidifies the positive changes we have seen since Director Tong took over,” said Irwin. “I look forward to working with Director Tong, Deputy Director Cruz, and CISO (Peter) Liebert to help California achieve these goals.”
Irwin added: “Technology is one of the most dynamic parts of state government, reviewing and updating our plans, policies, and standards on a regular basis cannot be overstated, and we must work together to ensure that Vision 2020 is fully implemented.”
As chairman of the Select Committee on Emerging Technologies and Innovation and a member of the Select Committee on STEM, Assembly member Ed Chau, D-Monterey Park, is thinking about the future of technology.
“The Vision 2020 plan is a good starting point for CDT. This state deserves a truly strategic approach to integrating technology with service delivery, and one that prioritizes customer-oriented thinking, reasonable risk-taking and responsibility for outcomes,” Chau wrote to Techwire.
Chau is also the chairman of the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee, which oversees the Department of Technology.
“The real test of this strategy will be the outcomes – I look forward to hearing further details from the department as to what quantifiable metrics they will be using to show that they are delivering on the promises being made in this plan. As the chairman of the committee charged with legislative oversight of the department, I remain committed to working hand-in-hand with the executive branch to help ensure that the state succeeds in bringing a new approach to technology management befitting California,” Chau wrote.
State Sen. Ben Allen, D-Manhattan Beach, a member of the Tech Caucus, sees the document as building on existing groundwork.
"I'm hopeful the California Department of Technology's new strategic plan will continue to build on the important goals set in recent years — improving the responsiveness, accessibility and mobility of government," Allen wrote to Techwire.
