![[photo, 100 Community Place, Crownsville, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/08conoff/images/buildings/1198-1-07705b.jpg)
The main functions of the Department of Information Technology began within State government in February 1993, when the Governor established the position of Chief of Information Technology, along with the Information Technology Board, within the Department of Budget and Fiscal Planning (Executive Order 01.01.1993.06). In July 1993, certain additional responsibilities for information technology were assigned by statute to the Department of Budget and Fiscal Planning (Chapter 120, Acts of 1993). To further oversee these duties, the Office of Information Technology was created within the Department of Budget and Management in 1996. The Office of Information Technology reformed as the Department of Information Technology in July 2008 (Chapter 9, Acts of 2008; Chapters 241 & 242, Acts of 2022; Code State Finance & Procurement Article, secs. 3.5-101 through 3.5-606).
State information technology policy is the responsibility of the Department of Information Technology. The Department develops, maintains, revises, and enforces information technology policies, procedures, and standards throughout State government. Moreover, the Department publishes and maintains the State Information Security Policy and its related security requirements. The Department, however, does not have authority over or responsibility for the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, St. Mary's College of Maryland, the Maryland Port Administration, or the Maryland Stadium Authority (Chapter 150, Acts of 2018).
100 Community Place, Crownsville, Maryland, July 2016. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
To the Governor and all units of State government, the Department provides technical assistance, advice, and recommendations concerning information technology. Further, the Department annually reviews the project plans of State agencies for making their services and information available to the public on-line.
The Statewide Information Technology Master Plan is developed and maintained by the Department. The Plan is the basis for the management and direction of information technology within the Executive Branch of State government. The Plan covers all aspects of information technology, including information management, data processing, and telecommunications (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, secs. 3.5-304 through 3.5-307).
Formerly located at 45 Calvert Street, Annapolis, the Department moved to 100 Community Place, Crownsville, Maryland, in July 2016.
With Senate advice and consent, the Secretary of Information Technology is appointed by the Governor.
The Secretary of Information Technology serves on the Governor's Executive Council, the Governor's Subcabinet on Infrastructure; the MD THINK Committee; and chairs the Governor's Artificial Intelligence Subcabinet, the Information Technology Advisory Council, the Statewide Interoperability Radio Control Board, and the Council on Open Data.
As a member, the Secretary serves on the Board of Directors, Assistive Technology Loan Program; the Criminal Justice Information Advisory Board; the Maryland Cybersecurity Council; the Management Committee of the EMaryland Application Service Provider Consortium; the Government Efficiency Commission; the Maryland Green Purchasing Committee; the Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee; the Procurement Improvement Council; and the Interdepartmental Advisory Committee on Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs.
Formerly, the Department's work had been organized under Administration, and Operations. In April 2015, however, reorganization aligned Department units under the Chief of Staff, and the Chief Operating Officer. In November 2016, departmental units again were placed under Administration and Operations. By October 2024, the units were divided under different Chiefs.
Reporting directly to the Secretary are offices for the Counsel and Security Management, as well as the Chief of Staff, Artificial Intelligence, Data, Digital Experience, Infrastructure, Operations, and Platform and Client Services.
Composed of chief information officers and information technology lead workers from each State agency, the Information Technology Advisory Council meets to increase collaboration and communication regarding information technology modernization among all State agencies.
The Council is chaired by the Secretary of Information Technology.
STATEWIDE INTEROPERABILITY RADIO CONTROL BOARD
In June 2014, the Statewide Interoperability Radio Control Board was established in the Department of Information Technology (Chapter 117, Acts of 2014).
The Board coordinates the operation and maintenance of the Statewide Public Safety Interoperability Radio System, also known as Maryland FiRST. The System is a 700 MHz radio system that connects Maryland's first responders on one secure radio system. For the System, the Board establishes standard operating procedures, quality of service standards, and maintenace guidelines. The Board also is responsible for coordinating, adding, and removing System users; and resolving conflicts among users.
To the Governor and General Assembly, the Board recommends funding levels and resources needed for the Statewide Interoperability Radio Control Board System. The Board also negotiates use agreements with the federal government, neighboring states, and the District of Columbia.
User working groups advise the Board.
The Board consists of eleven members. Five members are appointed to four-year terms by the Governor; six serve ex officio. The Secretary of Information Technology serves as Chair (Code Public Safety Article, secs. 1-501 through 1-503).
CHIEF OF STAFF
Beginning in April 2015, the Chief of Staff was responsible for Administration, and Social Media and Digital Engagement. Following a February 2016 restructuring, the Chief of Staff oversaw DoIT Procurement and Contract Management, Enterprise Program Management, and Finance. Briefly, Administration was headed by an Assistant Secretary, who oversaw the Resource Share Program, as well as DoIT Procurement and Contract Management, Enterprise Program Management, and Finance, beginning in November 2016. In August 2018, those units once again were placed under the Chief of Staff. In October 2019, when statewide procurement functions were consolidated in the Department of General Services, DoIT Procurement and Contract Management was abolished.
The Major Information Technology Development Project Fund supports major information technology development projects for which the estimated total cost of development equals or exceeds $1,000,000; or the project undertaken supports a critical business function associated with the public health, education, safety, or financial well-being of the citizens of Maryland; or the Secretary of Information Technology determines that the project requires the special attention and consideration given to a major information technology development project (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, secs. 3.5-101, 3.5-308, 3.5-309).
![[photo, 100 Community Place, Crownsville, Maryland]](/msa/mdmanual/08conoff/images/buildings/1198-1-07697b.jpg)
Infrastructure traces its origins to January 2005, when the Networks Division began within the Office of Information Technology under the Department of Budget and Management. The Division joined the Department of Information Technology in July 2008, and was placed under Operations in February 2009. Reorganized in April 2015, the Networks Division was renamed Infrastructure.
Critical communication infrastructure systems are maintained and supported by Infrastructure to improve broadband access for State agencies and critical local community institutions, such as schools, libraries, hospitals, and public safety agencies. These systems include construction of telecommunication towers; the maintenance and expansion of the State's communications fiber optic network, called networkMaryland; and a statewide radio communication system for first responders, called Maryland First.
100 Community Place, Crownsville, Maryland, July 2016. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.
Within the Department of General Services, Statewide Interoperable Communications began as Radio Services. It became Wireless Communication Services in 1994, and transferred to the Department of Budget and Management in 1996. Under the Office of Information Technology, it was renamed Wireless Support Services in 1997, and Wireless Services in 2002. As part of the Networks Division, it moved to the Department of Information Technology in July 2008. Under the Chief Operating Officer, the Statewide Radio System was established as a separate division in April 2015. In December 2015, it adopted its present name.
Statewide Interoperable Communications promotes compatibility between radio systems; evaluates and promotes the sharing of resources, where appropriate; and procures wireless systems, including radio, microwave, cellular phone and paging systems. It also advises State agencies on planning, acquisition, and operation of radio systems; and provides radio frequency coordination assistance to State and local government.
The Office directs, coordinates, and implements the overall cybersecurity strategy and policy for the Executive Branch of State government. This strategy and policy relate to standards by which to categorize all information and information systems collected or maintained by or on behalf of each unit of State government; as well as to guidelines governing the types of information and information systems to be included in each category; and security requirements, i.e. management, operational and technical controls, for information and information systems in each category. They also concern assessing the categorization of systems and data, and the associated implementation of information security requirements; determining whether a system should be allowed to continue to operate if the State Chief Information Security Officer finds security vulnerabilities or deficiencies in the implementation of information security requirements.
The Office's role with regard to strategy and policy also involves the management of security awareness training for State employees; assisting to develop data management, data governance, and data specification standards to promote standardization and reduce risk; and assisting to develop a digital identity standard and specification applicable to all parties who communicate, interact, or conduct business with or on behalf of State government (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, sec. 3.5-2A-01 through 3.5-2A-06).
Directing the Office of Security Management is the State Chief Information Security Officer, who also chairs the Maryland Cybersecurity Coordinating Council (Code State Finance & Procurement Article, sec. 3.5-2A-03).
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CLOUD SERVICES
Under Infrastructure, Cloud Services organized first as Servers and Storage in April 2015. It became Cloud Services in November 2016.
PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS
PLATFORM & CLIENT SERVICES
CLIENT SERVICES
Client Services began as Applications and Client Delivery Services, and reformed as Client Services by 2023. By October 2024, it had moved under Platform and Client Services.
OFFICE OF SECURITY MANAGEMENT
In June 2019, the Office of Security Management was authorized within the Department of Information Technology by the Governor (Executive Order 01.01.2019.07). The Office replaced Statewide Security Services. In July 2022, the General Assembly authorized the Office of Security Management by statute (Chapter 242, Acts of 2022).
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