East Hudson Valley News

Dutchess County has once again secured a position in the nation's top ten for best technology practices. The 2024 Digital Counties Survey, conducted by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo), ranked Dutchess County 6th among mid-size county governments. This recognition is attributed to efforts in enhancing cybersecurity, streamlining service delivery, and applying innovative technologies to county priorities. These initiatives are spearheaded by the County’s Office of Central and Information Services (OCIS).

The OCIS team recently demonstrated its preparedness during a Crowdstrike-related technology outage that affected millions of Microsoft Windows users, including many within Dutchess County Government. OCIS facilitated a swift recovery within hours, ensuring minimal disruption to county operations and services.

County Executive Sue Serino stated, “We proudly congratulate our OCIS team for this much-deserved recognition. Team members know the importance of staying aware of and planning for cyber-attacks and other threats to our systems. Their diligence helps ensure County data remains secure, preventing potentially costly interruptions to our daily operations and helping ensure we maintain the trust of residents and visitors alike.”

Although the recent CrowdStrike shutdown was not a cyber-attack, it underscored the significance of cybersecurity as malicious actors attempted to exploit the incident by obtaining login credentials from employees. Such breaches can cost public sector entities millions in repairs, ransom payments, and legal fees.

OCIS Acting Commissioner Stephen Oscarlece commented, “Dutchess County OCIS continues to implement and update a wide array of technology services to be as secure, accessible and effective as possible. The recent technology outage, while not a direct cyber threat, was still a good reminder of how important it is for our team to be prepared to respond quickly and efficiently to ensure our ability to provide essential services to fellow employees and residents alike. We are grateful for the continued recognition of our commitment and hard work.”

To bolster cybersecurity awareness and preparedness, Dutchess County conducts annual cybersecurity tabletop exercises and employee training sessions. OCIS also enhances local municipalities' readiness through its annual Cyber Security Summit held at Marist College. The event featured discussions on artificial intelligence (AI) best practices and how cybercriminals utilize AI against agencies and residents.

Beyond cybersecurity leadership, Dutchess County OCIS continues providing innovative technology services such as:

- A new Online Zoning Map for the Department of Planning & Development enabling users to view interactive zoning maps for any of the county’s 30 municipalities.

- Upgrades to the GIS Open Data Portal offering free access to numerous GIS datasets.

“The Digital Counties Survey illustrates how counties are on the cutting-edge, pursuing innovative approaches to serve our residents,” said NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase. “Counties are thoughtfully adopting technologies like artificial intelligence and data platforms to enhance civic engagement, increase efficiency, and strengthen our communities today and for the future.”