Monthly IS Updates

• The OMES ITSM team has successfully upgraded ServiceNow to the Xanadu version. This upgrade brings significant improvements across various areas of the platform such as workspace efficiency, performance, security, IT Operations Management, IT Service Management, and analytics.

• The network team continues replacing network hardware across the state to refresh end-of-lease equipment, standardize all older network configurations to the current OMES standard and upgrade other equipment to increase functionality and performance.

In November and continuing through December, the network team has or will be servicing:

• Oklahoma Department of Human Services
• Oklahoma Department of Corrections.
• Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
• Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

• The Security team is actively migrating agencies to Windows 11, having successfully transitioned 43 agencies and 2,639 machines so far. We’ve even had some agencies ask if they can get on the new system sooner than planned. Thank you for all your help and patience during this transition!

• OK-ISAC thanks everyone for their contributions to the successful OK-ISAC Symposium at InnoTech Oklahoma! Over 1,350 people attended, and 27 new members joined OK-ISAC. The symposium empowers cybersecurity and IT professionals through collaborative learning, innovative insights, and hands-on solutions.

This year's topics included a 2024 Cyber Command lookback, the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, a demonstration of bad actor hardware, and panels on emerging technology and AI. Mark your calendar for next year's symposium on Oct. 22, 2025!

• During this holiday season, don’t go cold turkey with your password security! Maintaining strong password hygiene is crucial to protecting sensitive systems and data. Here are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind: 

  · Create and use strong, complex passwords. Passwords should be at least 16 characters and a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters (!,@,#,*, etc.). 

  · Avoid re-using passwords. Each account should have a unique password. This prevents a possible breach from compromising multiple accounts that use the same password. 

  · Regularly update passwords. Periodically change passwords, especially for accounts that access sensitive systems. Be sure to take advantage of the password change reminders. 

  · Utilize a password manager. Use a password manager to securely store and manage your passwords. This allows you to generate and use long, complex passwords without the need to remember them all!

  As a reminder, SecretServer is the state standard password manager and can be used to maintain your password hygiene.

• Oklahoma Cyber Command and OK-ISAC congratulate Coy Davidson on his win at the National FFA Prepared Speaking LDE! His speech on the digitization of agriculture and cyber threats showcased his public speaking skills and understanding of emerging challenges. We appreciate his preparation efforts, including a tour of the OMES Lincoln Data Center and a presentation to Oklahoma Cyber Command and OK-ISAC. Congratulations, Coy!

• The Workday Technical team is collaborating with Learning to integrate Microsoft Calendar and team features into Workday@OK. This integration will enhance functionality by allowing users to sync their calendars and automatically generate Microsoft Teams meeting links. These improvements are expected to significantly boost productivity and overall user satisfaction.

• OMES partnered with North Highland and ODOT to revolutionize GenAi with a groundbreaking approach that integrates end-to-end integration, reporting and analytics dashboards, and the Gemini GenAi user interface using the State Data Platform. This innovative solution is built on a core foundation of data governance.