There are a host of privacy and security issues, requiring statewide and agency-specific policies, which need to be addressed before the Internet can be utilized to its fullest potential. There are also concerns about how to govern employee Internet access and use privileges. There is a growing concern among agencies that unless there are some written Internet access and use policies in place it would be very difficult to control inappropriate or unauthorized use. State government should define an information technology architecture that clearly establishes guidelines and standards for current IT operations and future IT development. Definition of this architecture must be stakeholder-driven.
State government needs a simple, flexible and integrated IT planning process.
The planning process should provide a common way of defining agency business activities that can be applied to both strategic and IT plans and also be utilized in budgeting, accounting, contracting and performance measurement systems. The process should allow adequate IT planning flexibility to accommodate agencies that vary in size and mission, possibly through the tailoring of planning guidelines and standards. The process should minimize paperwork and emphasize the use of Web-based technology. State government needs a budgeting or funding process that can be effectively integrated with the IT development lifecycle. The process should consider information technology a capital investment and provide for the funding of that investment beyond a two-year budget cycle.