January 9, 2023 (Saint Paul, MN) – Today, Minnesota’s Technology Advisory Council (TAC) released /mnit/assets/TAC%20Report%202022_tcm38-557782.pdfa report of recommendations to advance and modernize technology service delivery for Minnesotans. In 2021, the Minnesota Legislature established the Technology Advisory Council (TAC) as a permanent body to advise Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) and executive branch agencies on strategic information technology initiatives and service delivery. 

"The discussions between council members, private sector leaders, public servants, and industry experts at the Technology Advisory Council led to powerful recommendations that will guide continuous improvements in government technology, cybersecurity, and modernization. Minnesota IT Services is eager to move this work forward with our state agency business partners, our partners in the Minnesota Legislature, and our partners in private industry so that together, we can all deliver people-centered government services that return agility, time, and ease of use to the people of Minnesota."

Tarek Tomes, MNIT Commissioner, State of Minnesota CIO

The recommendations focus on adopting practices that put users and customers at the center of digital products delivered by state agencies, moving towards a product model of IT development, establishing strong change leadership, providing sustainable IT funding, improving protections of technology assets through long-term planning that includes cybersecurity funding, and expanding partnerships to develop – and retain – a skilled, cyber-aware workforce.

Former iterations of the Technology Advisory Council have advised the state since the creation of MNIT and the start of executive branch technology consolidation in 2011. In 2019, with the issuance of Executive Order 19-02, membership was expanded to include additional private and public sector technology experts and four legislative ex-officio members. Previous reports and recommendations of the council were released in June 2020 and February 2021. 

"The Council worked collaboratively to produce a set of recommendations that, when implemented, will advance how Minnesota’s agencies use and deliver technology to maximize its benefits for the citizens of the state. Further, the recommendations emphasize the need for ongoing funding for cybersecurity protections and the enhancement and maintenance of these important state assets."

Rick King, Technology Advisory Council Chair

MNIT and state agencies, alongside the public and private sector partners in TAC, are committed to helping to advance and implement these recommendations to help state government become more efficient, serve Minnesotans and partners better, provide stable funding and resources, and protect technology assets and private data. 

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About Minnesota IT Services 

Minnesota IT Services, led by the state’s Chief Information Officer, is the Information Technology agency for Minnesota’s executive branch, providing enterprise and local IT services to over 70 agencies, boards, and commissions. MNIT employs more than 2,400 people. Together, we build, maintain, and secure the State’s IT infrastructure, applications, projects, and services. MNIT sets IT strategy, direction, policies, and standards for enterprise IT leadership and planning. We also serve Minnesotans by connecting all 87 counties, 300 cities, and 200 public higher education campuses across the state on the MNET network. Through public-private partnerships, our team proactively protects the state’s information systems and the private data of 5.7 million Minnesotans.