Following the contract approval, the meeting included a comprehensive presentation by the County Chief Information Officer, Sam Eds, who outlined the county’s information technology strategy. The emphasis was on long-term planning across six key areas, including software, cybersecurity, registry operations, information access, IT service, and infrastructure. Eds underscored the importance of prioritizing cybersecurity measures amid evolving threats, citing the implementation of a written information security plan and multi-factor authentication for sensitive applications as critical steps. He highlighted the transition to a cloud-based networking system, a significant advancement following a previous security incident.

Eds also detailed the implementation of Tyler enterprise resource planning software, a tool for county functions, and introduced a pilot program for an employee access portal. This portal will allow employees to manage time off requests and access tax documents. Efforts to enhance technological infrastructure at the county’s recreational facility were also noted.

The discussion of cybersecurity extended to the registry’s main system, BrownTech, which operates on a secure IBM backbone. While no high-priority issues were identified, an upgrade to the IBM power system hardware is anticipated in the next two to three years. Plans to enhance information access for employees and towns were discussed, including the creation of a dashboard to track service metrics and data for the county’s registry.

The meeting addressed infrastructure needs, particularly the integration of the golf course and recreational facility with county IT services. This integration aims to ensure operational safety, with specific personnel providing necessary technological support. The speaker emphasized the establishment of clearer project management processes for IT assignments, focusing on transparency in steps, deadlines, and costs.

Artificial intelligence’s potential role in financial analysis and budget management was discussed, alongside network safety measures, particularly email security. The enhancement of an existing email protection software, CyberGraph, was planned to alert users to potential email threats. A commissioner expressed gratitude for the update and inquired about the completion of suggested cybersecurity measures, noting employee participation in state-sponsored cybersecurity training through a program called “No Before.”