Q1 2025 Quarterly Report
News
Technology Advisory Council issues new recommendations
(TAC) issued recommendations to guide strategic action and ensure government technology meets the needs of Minnesotans today and into the future.
As expectations evolve, the TAC plays a critical role in helping Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) and executive branch agencies deliver accessible, secure, and responsive technology solutions.
Key recommendation areas included:
Artificial intelligence (AI): Exploring AI opportunities, governance, and readiness through pilot projects and leadership education.
Cybersecurity: Strengthening protections, streamlining incident reporting, and aligning cybersecurity strategy with statewide efforts.
Customer experience (CX): Promoting a people-centered approach through CX leadership, best practices, and increased internal capacity.
Modern IT delivery: Advancing product-based service delivery, procurement flexibility, and sustainable funding models.
Data sharing: Enhancing collaboration and services through secure data access across agencies.
The report also noted progress in support for traffic safety technology through the Toward Zero Deaths project, IT infrastructure for the new Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), and expanded innovation through AI exploration.
By adopting these recommendations, Minnesota will be better positioned to address current challenges, build a resilient digital infrastructure, and deliver high-quality services that meet the evolving needs of Minnesotans. More details on the recommendations can be found in the 2024 Technology Advisory Council report. The TAC approved this list of recommendations at its Jan. 10, 2025 meeting.
Leadership changes to agency partners
New leadership strengthens MNIT’s agency partnerships and innovation focus
In March, MNIT named Kim Roberson as Chief Business Technology Officer (CBTO) for MNIT partnering with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), the Board of Animal Health (BAH), and the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). Kim brings over 25 years of IT leadership experience and a strong track record of aligning technology with agency missions.
Kim previously served as Deputy CBTO for MNIT at the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT), where she led major initiatives in application portfolio management, data governance, and agile transformation. She is a 2018 MNIT Manager of the Year and a graduate of the Senior Leadership Institute.
Laura Velasquez, who served as interim CBTO since 2023, now returns to her role as Deputy CBTO for MNIT partnering with MDA, BAH, and DLI. Together, Kim and Laura will continue to strengthen MNIT’s partnerships with these agencies and drive forward innovation, service delivery, and strategic IT alignment.
Kim began her new role on April 9, 2025.
MNIT IT Specialist Mike Farrell wins Employee of the Year
Mike Farrell, an Information Technology Specialist II at MNIT, partnering with the Department of Corrections (DOC), has been honored with the MCF - Moose Lake Employee of the Year award in the Programming/Non-Officer category. His technical expertise and personal approach to problem-solving have earned him the trust and appreciation of his colleagues at the Moose Lake and Willow River facilities.
Farrell lead the large-scale canteen project for MINNCOR, relocating operations and installing 28 new machines to create a seamless self-service system for incarcerated individuals. He also played a key role in restoring functionality during a widescale vendor outage in July 2024, finding a workaround to get computers running again. Mike’s dedication to exceptional IT support ultimately benefits the safety and efficiency of the state’s correctional facilities.
Opening the door for small IT businesses
In early 2025, MNIT and the Office of Equity in Procurement, which helps small businesses work with the state, teamed up to host the MNIT IT Vendor Fair. The event was designed to demystify the IT contracting process and give local companies a chance to connect directly with the people who manage tech contracts for the state.
Government contracts can be a growth opportunity for small businesses, but the process can feel overwhelming. This fair broke down those barriers— offering step-by-step guidance on getting certified, understanding accessibility requirements, and applying for state tech work.
The event drew strong interest from local tech firms looking to engage government opportunities. Approximately 60 small businesses attended the fair, eager to learn how to navigate the state’s IT contracting system.
The fair offered a valuable opportunity for face-toface networking with state leaders and procurement experts. It also created a pathway for small tech companies to become trusted vendors for the state, aligning with Minnesota’s broader goal of fostering stable jobs and expanding business opportunities with diverse, local partners.
MNIT hosts Customer Experience Summit
On February 7, MNIT hosted the 2025 Customer Experience (CX) Leadership Summit, bringing together leaders from across state government to strengthen human-centered service delivery. The summit, held on behalf of the Governor’s Office to support the One Minnesota Plan CX goal area, featured keynote speakers and panelists who emphasized the importance of designing government services around the real experiences of Minnesotans.
Notable speakers, including New York’s Chief Customer Experience Officer, Tonya Webster, to Governor Walz’s Chief of Staff, Chris Schmitter, highlighted the power of customer-centered leadership and its potential for transformative impact.
Participants left energized and inspired to continue building a more responsive, accessible, and accountable government. MNIT’s Office of Transformation and Strategy Delivery continues to support CX efforts across state agencies through tools, resources, and collaboration.
Inspiring future tech leaders
Students and teachers from Wayzata Public Schools visited MNIT to explore the wide range of career opportunities in technology and cybersecurity within state government. The visit gave students a first-hand look at how IT professionals protect digital systems, build accessible services, and use data and innovation to improve how government serves Minnesotans.
Technology careers in state government span areas like software development, cybersecurity, data science, user experience, and IT infrastructure—offering meaningful, mission-driven work that makes a difference every day.
Project & Product Highlights
Building a safer, smarter corrections system with PRISM
Modernizing Minnesota’s corrections system provides the opportunity to build a more effective and humane approach—one that supports rehabilitation, improves public safety, and makes better use of resources. To make this vision a reality, the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) partnered with MNIT to design PRISM—the Progress and Rehabilitation Information System of Minnesota. This modern, cloud-based system will replace the outdated COMS platform.
With PRISM, the DOC modernizes its technology to simplify its day-to-day operations and improve statewide efficiency and rehabilitation outcomes. This transformation will help the DOC better serve Minnesota’s communities and the individuals in its care.
PRISM is part of a broader DOC Transformation Program, a state-approved initiative focused on updating corrections technology. Over the next three years, PRISM will streamline operations, reduce administrative burdens, and empower the DOC to make data-driven decisions.
Using modern, cloud-based technology, the system will integrate key processes and centralize data, allowing staff to access the information they need quickly and efficiently. This will reduce reliance on manual workarounds and foster smoother coordination across departments.
Key milestones to date
- Develop transformation program strategies: In April 2024, the DOC and MNIT detailed plans to improve agency programs, making sure they fit both business needs and technology goals.
- Kickoff: In March 2025, DOC staff, MNIT, and Mi-Case, the software vendor, officially launched the PRISM project.
- Fit-gap analysis: This detailed review process will ensure that PRISM aligns perfectly with the unique needs of the DOC.
Technology Modernization Fund
To deliver secure, modern, and accessible digital services, the Minnesota Legislature established the Technology Modernization Fund (TMF) with a $40 million investment over four years starting in 2023.
Managed by MNIT, the TMF supports projects that modernize technology, strengthen cybersecurity, and improve the digital experience for Minnesotans. A cross-agency steering team reviews proposals and oversees progress.
TMF projects focus on:
- Enhancing customer experience.
- Improving digital services.
- Addressing security risks.
- Modernizing business processes.
- Increasing resiliency and efficiency.
- Advancing the One Minnesota Plan.
- Adopting shared or market-based solutions.
- Leveraging AI or automation.
Projects approved during Q1 2025
Department of Corrections
Pilot funds supported the replacement of staff proximity badges with contactless, chip embedded credentials. This technology serves as the physical component of multi-factor authentication and upgrades the department’s existing badge system.
Minnesota Management and Budget and Department of Administration
Funds support discovery work to evaluate the state’s procurement function and develop a transformation strategy. The initiative seeks to identify inefficiencies, address pain points, and create a scalable, value-driven model aligned with industry best practices and emerging technologies.
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA)
This project will create a modern reporting platform with both mobile and web-based tools for submitting environmental issues. Features include photo uploads, location tracking, and improved communication with MPCA to support faster responses and a healthier environment.
Minnesota IT Services
MNIT will replace its legacy BMC Helix IT ticketing system with ServiceNow to improve customer and employee experiences, streamline operations, and enhance security. Benefits include automated workflows, better risk management, and increased productivity.
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
This project will deliver a digital platform for more than 65,000 license, permit, and certificate holders. It will enable customer account management, self-service updates, and pre-application functionality—enhancing service delivery, compliance, and data transparency, while laying the foundation for future LoginMN integration and proactive outreach.
LoginMN launches
In April, MNIT launched LoginMN, the State of Minnesota’s secure and centralized sign-on service. This modern solution on login.mn.gov allows people to create a single account that will eventually link to all public-facing state government services. While the number of services available on LoginMN is limited, MNIT will continue to onboard more in the coming months and years. By July 1, 2027, all state digital services requiring the public to share private data must use LoginMN. By making it easier for people to sign in and access state services in a way that better protects their information, we transform the user experience and provide a modern, more secure platform for digital transactions.
The legislature supported and funded Minnesota’s new solution, which also has the backing of a new Constituent Identity and Access Management Standard. This one-account solution will replace Minnesota Enterprise Identity Access Management, an older service that provides access to data, records, and access to some government applications. Inspired by the federal government’s login.gov, LoginMN is a secure, user-friendly identity management system that protects sensitive data. LoginMN’s use of identity proofing and multi-factor authentication addresses persistent and evolving cybersecurity threats, while increasing security and providing enhanced fraud detection capabilities.
A new milestone of cybersecurity protection for Minnesotans
Minnesota’s managed detection and response (MDR) service, offered through the Whole-ofState Cybersecurity program, has reached a significant milestone. Over 200 local government entities, including counties, cities, K-12 schools, townships, Tribal Nations, and critical infrastructure organization, are now using our 24/7/365 anti-virus tool.
The critical tool protects more than 55,000 endpoints (computers, devices, and servers) across Minnesota, constantly monitoring them to detect and stop cyber threats before they cause harm.
This effort goes beyond protecting the systems of county and city governments, K-12 schools, and essential infrastructure. It safeguards the personal information that matters most to everyday Minnesotans—health records, tax information, education data, and more. Counties and cities use MDR to protect sensitive data such as property records, infrastructure details, criminal justice files, water system information, and even communications between residents and their local government. By preventing cyber threats like ransomware and data breaches, MDR helps ensure these services stay online and secure. It ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data—allowing local governments to do their work and serve Minnesotans without disruption.
Widespread protection of MNIT’s managed detection and response
Minnesota achieves major milestone in NG911 transition
Minnesotans are moving closer to accessing a modernized 911 system known as Next Generation 911 (NG911) with the help of geospatial technology. To date, over 75% of statewide GIS data for roads, addresses, and emergency response zones have been validated and organized. This milestone is crucial as it ensures high-quality GIS data that meets national standards, which is essential for routing 911 calls to the appropriate call centers.
The current 911 system, now over 50 years old, is being updated to meet the demands of today’s world. Next Generation 911 enhances public safety by helping emergency services quickly and accurately locate and respond to incidents— ultimately saving lives.
MnGeo supports Minnesota’s transition to this new system by working with GIS data providers of Public Service Answering Points (PSAPs) to these critical components. Since 2015, MnGeo has partnered with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Communication Networks (DPS-ECN) to help PSAPs validate their data in preparation for the state’s transition to NG911. MnGeo also provides technical support and maintains the NG911 GIS Data Readiness Status Dashboard—a key step toward a safer, more efficient emergency response system.
Future-proofing Minnesota’s technology
With changes in the technology landscape, MNIT is proactively modernizing its technology to enhance services, bolster security, and reduce costs. This effort includes transitioning to efficient cloud-based solutions, retiring outdated systems, and migrating data and equipment out of high-cost physical locations.
As part of this initiative, MNIT plans to decommission the Enterprise Data Center 4 (EDC4) by September 30, 2027, and retire VMware by June 30, 2026. Project teams are partnering with state agencies to relocate data from EDC4 and identify systems running in the VMware environment for migration.
So far, systems that have moved to the cloud are saving an average of 40% in costs. MNIT remains committed to protecting agency resources and, through these partnerships, building a more modern, secure, and cost-effective technology foundation for Minnesota.
Benefits of proactive modernization:
Protecting Budgets: Addressing rising infrastructure and licensing costs now helps shield against future state budget strains.
Long-Term Savings: Cloud migration drives modernization and reduces future expenses.
Immediate Impact: We’re already seeing up to 40% average cost savings per application by moving workloads to the cloud.