Welcome to the first issue of DIR's newsletter for agencies. We hope to include relevant and timely information about DIR—its programs and services—and, more importantly, ideas on how we can better serve you, our customers.
If you have questions or any suggestions about future topics you'd like to see featured here, let us know.
Thank you!
Karen Robinson
Executive Director
Texas Department of Information Resources
In this Issue
Information Security Update
If you've ever struggled with creating robust passwords to protect your data, then you'll be interested in the latest issue of the Cyber Security Tips (PDF, 75KB) newsletter from the state's Chief Information Security Officer, Angel Cruz. You'll find tips on creating strong passwords and how to keep them safe.
Top 10 State Technology Priorities
Thanks to the many state agency staff who collaborated with DIR to identify the state's top 10 IT priorities in the current State Strategic Plan. DIR strives to provide technology leadership and guidance to our agency partners and we value your input and ideas. Explore the plan online, get more information about each priority, and see examples of how other agencies are utilizing the technologies.
Cloud technology can provide efficiencies and potential cost savings but there are important considerations agencies need to take into account before implementing these tools. To help you further evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of cloud-based solutions, DIR has put together a cloud technology brief. The brief is one of several tools agencies can use when assessing new technologies in the face of difficult budgets and a challenging economy. DIR is developing additional briefs on specific technology solutions and will feature them in future issues.
Strategic Client Solutions Group
DIR recently launched The Strategic Client Solutions Group to help agencies with limited resources solve common technology issues including selecting/sourcing the right technology, gathering technology project requirements, and even delivering proposals outlining specific solutions. For more information on how the SCS Group can help your agency, please contact Allan Martin at DIR.
Customer Advisory Council
As part of our ongoing commitment to better serve our agency partners, DIR's Customer Advisory Council (CAC) gives a voice to customers' technology needs. The CAC will provide a guiding hand in the broad direction and quality assurance of DIR Technology Services from the customer perspective. For more information on the council, please contact Carl Marsh at DIR.
Customer Rebates
In May, DIR began issuing rebates to agencies and other customers. After the last legislative session, a statutory cap of 2% was placed on administrative fees for customers using DIR cooperative contracts. DIR senior management made additional reductions and now no contract has an administrative fee greater than 0.5%. DIR has rebated more than $11 million to approximately 700 customers.
Texas.gov News
Texas.gov's new mobile site is attracting more users! With the launch of m.texas.gov in April, the site has received over 1 million visits of which 70% represent new customers. Read more from Government Technology.
New Texas.gov television ads on driver and vehicle services are now airing in the Austin market. If you haven't seen them yet, you can view them on the Texas.gov's YouTube channel.
Upcoming Training
DIR Procurement Webinars
Got questions about procurement? Let DIR help! Sign up for DIR's upcoming procurement webinars:
- June 29 – Security Considerations for Technology Procurements
- July 11 – Best Practices for Contract Management
View the full DIR events calendar here
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