I.T. Policies : Browse Popular Ideas

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• I agree

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  I.T. Policies »

  Enterprise IT Policies & Standards

  I think policies should be linked to the building block of the IT city plan. Just like, city planner enforces certain polices and standards for a particular area (e.g. residential complex, manufacturing complex etc) , similarily , we need to enforce policies at the building blocks/ cluster level. Let me give you an example, if I have to setup some policies for the ECM (Enterprise Content Management) system, then I will ...more »

  I think policies should be linked to the building block of the IT city plan. Just like, city planner enforces certain polices and standards for a particular area (e.g. residential complex, manufacturing complex etc) , similarily , we need to enforce policies at the building blocks/ cluster level. Let me give you an example, if I have to setup some policies for the ECM (Enterprise Content Management) system, then I will have different policies for "creating contents" vs "publishing contents". Different capabilities are needed for "creating contents" vs "publishing contents" and hence different policies. You will also need different set of standards for "creating contents" vs "publishing contents".. you may would like to use FileNet for creating contents but probably would like to use Adobe or MIcorosft Word/Outlook for publishing contents.

  Cheers!

  Syed Suhail Ahmad

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  Submitted by Unsubscribed User 3 years ago

• I agree

  9 votes

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  Globally allow the use of Firefox and its extensions

  Currently IE is the only approved web browser in CIO/OFT. It is against CIO/OFT policy to install different software such as Firefox unless one goes through a cumbersome policy exception application. In my experience Firefox (with its added extensions) allows more granular control over websites. The types of technologies that facilitate Web 2.0 (Flash; Javascript and other active content) are also used maliciously ...more »

  Currently IE is the only approved web browser in CIO/OFT. It is against CIO/OFT policy to install different software such as Firefox unless one goes through a cumbersome policy exception application.

  In my experience Firefox (with its added extensions) allows more granular control over websites.

  The types of technologies that facilitate Web 2.0 (Flash; Javascript and other active content) are also used maliciously by many websites, e.g. to deliver malware placed there by hackers, or to deliver intrusive advertising which cannot be shut off.

  Users like me are hesitant to enable active holes like this in their browsers, particularly because with IE it is largely an all-or-nothing enablement: Allow the technology for a Web 2.0 site, and you have allowed it for all the other lousy websites, too.

  A strategy to adopt greater Web 2.0 use in agencies would be to allow the use of Firefox and its extensions (e.g. Flash Blocker; No-Script; etc) globally across the board. That way workforce members can "open" the Web 2.0 websites while keeping most websites under tight browser setting control.

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  6 comments for Idea: Globally allow the use of Firefox and its extensions

  Submitted by New York State CIO 3 years ago

• I agree

  9 votes

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  Revisit the web filtering procedure

  The CIO/OFT web filter often prevents access to websites needed for me to do my job, either because of false positives or false assumptions. This usually hits at the worst time-pressed times, so the current process for asking for an exception is too cumbersome. Specific examples of a: - False positive: Assigned task, research security issue. A website that mentions the word "hacking" is misinterpreted as a prohibited ...more »

  The CIO/OFT web filter often prevents access to websites needed for me to do my job, either because of false positives or false assumptions. This usually hits at the worst time-pressed times, so the current process for asking for an exception is too cumbersome. Specific examples of a:

  - False positive: Assigned task, research security issue. A website that mentions the word "hacking" is misinterpreted as a prohibited hackers' site.

  - False assumption: Assigned task, research a webpage creating-vendor's approach on one of the sample pages it has helped a third party create. The sample page is a federal government webpage about strengthening romantic relationships to reduce societal harms like divorce. False assumption is made by the web filter this is a prohibited "Dating" webpage.

  - False assumption: Assigned task, determine vendor's statements on a public policy issue. Finding that vendor has taken down its webpage, try to access Internet Archive to find earlier version of page. Prohibited. (Not sure the reason why).

  - False assumption: Assigned task, research public policy issue where most discussions have taken place overseas. Try to use web language translator websites to translate discussions into English. Prohibited. Not sure why.

  I think CIO/OFT should explore a better approach, one which generally permits the requested accesses based on the assumption it can trust its workforce members, but with a more robust logging and alert capability.

  For example, workforce member tries to access questionable site, receives warning message: "This site has been flagged as inappropriate because it contains ______ types of content. Please enter your work-related reason for accessing this site."

  This would train and encourage any workforce members not following acceptable use policy to either desist immediately, or in the future.

  But this would allow legitimate uses to go through with a justification without work being stopped in its tracks.

  And this would still allow administrators to monitor and prevent abuses. ("Gee, Mary's website accesses were frequently flagged as possibly inappropriate this month. Let's make sure she isn't doing anything inappropriate and her assertion of work-relatedness is supportable").

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  1 comment for Idea: Revisit the web filtering procedure

  Submitted by New York State CIO 3 years ago

• I agree

  8 votes

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  I.T. Policies »

  Establish an information bank of policies, training materials, procedures, manuals, etc that can be accessed by all agencies

  Staff of state agencies frequently prepare information for administrative and other activities that is or may be useful and applicable to other government entities. Currently, some of this information may be shared informally, but it would be of great help to everyone if there were to be a centralized repository so staff could save time and effort (thus effecting cost savings) in researching and writing original materials ...more »

  Staff of state agencies frequently prepare information for administrative and other activities that is or may be useful and applicable to other government entities. Currently, some of this information may be shared informally, but it would be of great help to everyone if there were to be a centralized repository so staff could save time and effort (thus effecting cost savings) in researching and writing original materials by copying or adapting existing information.

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  1 comment for Idea: Establish an information bank of policies, training materials, procedures, manuals, etc that can be accessed by all agencies

  Submitted by New York State CIO 3 years ago

• I agree

  7 votes

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  Archive old policies with comparisons on inSide

  When CIO/OFT updates policies on inSide it removes the old versions. Sometimes, those old versions are needed. It would be helpful if: (1) The previous policies were left online in an archive webpage, linkable from the main policy page. (2) A "compare" version of the new versus old policy was posted at the same time as the new policy so workforce members could see at a glance what has been changed in the new policy. ...more »

  When CIO/OFT updates policies on inSide it removes the old versions. Sometimes, those old versions are needed.

  It would be helpful if:

  (1) The previous policies were left online in an archive webpage, linkable from the main policy page.

  (2) A "compare" version of the new versus old policy was posted at the same time as the new policy so workforce members could see at a glance what has been changed in the new policy.

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  Submitted by New York State CIO 3 years ago

• I agree

  0 votes

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  A system of Uniform domain names for NYS entities

  establish a systematic strategy for names of official government websites of NYS entities. Any city, town, etc. should be - cityname.ny.gov (e.g. Albany.ny.gov, or nassau.ny.gov) whereas counties should be - countyname.ny.gov (e.g. Albanycounty.ny.gov or nassaucounty.ny.gov) or else at - countyname.county.ny.gov (e.g. Albany.county.ny.gov or Nassau.county.ny.gov) For example, the city of Albany, NY website is ...more »

  establish a systematic strategy for names of official government websites of NYS entities. Any city, town, etc. should be

  - cityname.ny.gov (e.g. Albany.ny.gov, or nassau.ny.gov)

  whereas counties should be

  - countyname.ny.gov (e.g. Albanycounty.ny.gov or nassaucounty.ny.gov)

  or else at

  - countyname.county.ny.gov (e.g. Albany.county.ny.gov or Nassau.county.ny.gov)

  For example, the city of Albany, NY website is now at albanyny.org, which is both painful and embarrassing, and virually impossible to guess.

  This would normalize the website names, and make them uniform and easy to find.

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  Submitted by 1232710732 2 years ago

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