Montgomery County Department of Technology Services Receives Six NACo Achievement Awards

For Immediate Release: Monday, June 10, 2019

Montgomery County’s Department of Technology Services (DTS) has earned six 2019 Achievement Awards for outstanding programs. The awards are presented by the National Association of Counties (NACo) to recognize efforts by local jurisdictions that promote responsible, responsive and effective county government

The DTS programs receiving awards this year are:

Cyber Security Dashboard

• DTS implemented a Business Intelligence solution to enhance security awareness across all County Departments. Now, departments can more quickly respond to critical system vulnerabilities and more efficiently address vulnerabilities requiring remediation. The realized goals of this program include a reduction of the enterprise, server-security vulnerability backlog by more than 50 percent in one year; consolidation of relevant information from multiple data sources into a single Dashboard; automated generation of the BI security dashboard with actionable, consistent information for all County Departments; and, automation of weekly work distribution for the DTS server team.

Data Center Systems Monitoring

• DTS implemented a new Systems Monitoring tool in the Enterprise Data Center. The new tool allows for real-time monitoring of all equipment (network equipment, servers, storage, security systems, telephony systems, and environmental controls). This effort is intended to ensure 100 percent uptime for all systems critical to County operations and to provide immediate notification of any system outage.

Employee Identity Management

• DTS implemented processes, policies, technology and governance to manage the full lifecycle of identity management and control for access to County information systems resources for job applicants and employees. The identity management solution has allowed the County to improve efficiency and quality of service by reducing manual effort and errors, while at the same time providing enhanced auditability and information security.

Enterprise Service Bus

• DTS developed and operates an enhanced Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) that provides automated data transfer and integration services for the Enterprise. The enhanced ESB was developed using open-source (no cost) software. The County has achieved the following results by leveraging the ESB: data transfers and integrations are scheduled and executed without dependence on other processes; all data transfers and integrations are scheduled through a single tool, which streamlines and simplifies the process; and, problematic transfers and integrations can be easily terminated and rescheduled.

Vision Zero Web Map

• Vision Zero is a nationwide effort that aims to eliminate all traffic fatalities and related severe injuries. In support of this effort, the DTS Geographic Information Systems team created a Vision Zero map application that aims to allow County residents the ability to inform County decision makers about issues on County roads that they consider dangerous.  A dozen or so roadways and intersections with dangerous conditions are now able to be reported to County departments via the Vision Zero map.  Appropriate actions can then be taken by the County's Department of Transportation staff to fix roadway hazards that might contribute to traffic accidents.

Workflow Engine for Complex Process Orchestration

• DTS developed and deployed a Workflow Engine for Complex Process Orchestration that has improved the quality, capability, and resiliency of supported processes while simultaneously enabling the department to meet or exceed Information Technology Service Level Agreements. DTS developed this tool using open source (no cost) software.

DTS strives to make Montgomery County Government a fully integrated enterprise in which all departments and offices can utilize reliable, accurate and secure information to perform the government services and functions essential to the residents and businesses of Montgomery County. For more information about DTS, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dts.

NACo unites America's 3,069 County Governments. Founded in 1935, NACo brings county officials together to advocate with a collective voice on national policy, exchange ideas and build new leadership skills, pursue transformational county solutions, enrich the public's understanding of County Government and exercise exemplary leadership in public service. For more information about NACo, go to www.naco.org.

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Release ID: 19-197
Media Contact: Ohene Gyapong 240-777-6507