Data, customers key to state IT modernization in Maryland

In Maryland, modernizing the state government’s legacy IT systems is more than just technology. It relates to data governance, customer relationship management and a holistic view of the enterprise, says Michael Leahy, secretary of the Maryland Department of Information Technology.

In a video interview with StateScoop, Leahy says his main priority with regard to IT modernization is grouping similar activities or similar needs to efficiencies of scale that can be gained. Understanding the businesses of his customer agencies is a prerequisite task before upgrades can begin, he says.

“We’re in the midst of doing a data maturity analysis of all the state’s data,” Leahy says. “We’re also looking at moving a number of particular processes that are similar to a single platform, so for example our one stop licensing and permitting portal now handles all state licenses and permits. Citizens can go to the portal and find anything without knowing what agency it’s actually from.”

By creating interfaces that have similar “look and feel” across each creates a consistent experience that serves the user, he says.

And this past summer, he says, the state began digitizing its licensing and permitting instances so that the citizen could have a standardized interface — or “portal” — with which to update their credentials.

Leahy on his top priorities:

Leahy on customer relationship management:

Leahy on how he sees his role changing with emerging technology:

These videos were produced by StateScoop at the National Association of State Chief Information Officers’ midyear conference in National Harbor, Maryland, in May 2019.