| MOST POPULAR Oregon County Falls to Hack
It’s not yet clear whether it was ransomware that leveled Internet and phone service for Tillamook County, Ore., last week, but it sure looks like it. Officials noted in local news reports that a ransom had not yet been demanded, but all computer-based services, including the county’s voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) phone system were impacted. The small northwestern county brought in a private-sector digital forensics team in the wake of the attack. Audit Questions IT Service Levels in Louisiana
Louisiana is the latest state to get a less-than-stellar audit of its information technology. The Legislative Auditor’s office issued its report earlier this month, originally undertaken due to negative customer service feedback from state departments.
Chief Information Officer Dickie Howze, who completed a statewide consolidation of IT services several years ago, said the audit did not fully consider the breadth of services his agency provides. “OTS has come a long way,” Howze said in his response to the audit, “but we recognize that there is room for improvement.” The Jobs Report
Career change news was abundant this week, and GT readers were here for it. Jan. 31 was the last day for Code for America (CfA) Founder and Executive Director Jennifer Pahlka, as she steps away from the organization she has led since 2009. Two high-level CfA staffers will assume Pahlka’s daily duties while the organization looks for its next leader. Meanwhile, Santa Clara County CIO Ann Dunkin will leave her post next month for a job with Dell. Formerly CIO for the Environmental Protection Agency before coming to Santa Clara County, Dunkin’s role with Dell will keep her working with state and local government. At the state level, two other moves made news this week. Jeff Franklin, chief information security officer for the state of Iowa, is moving on after more than a decade in that job. In addition to his cybersecurity work, Franklin was interim CIO last year following the departure of Robert von Wolffradt. The state of Vermont has hired its second chief data officer, Kristin McClure. She brings about 20 years of private-sector data analytics experience with her to the job. | 