PeopleSoft HR moving to Access Indiana
Beginning October 5, 2022, how you log in to PeopleSoft HR is changing. PeopleSoft HR is converting to Access Indiana - a single sign-on system that provides a more streamlined and secure approach to more than 100 government services.
What's changing? You'll login with your email address, network password (if asked), and then you will use Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) to complete the sign-in. This is the same MFA you use today to log in to VPN or Office 365 applications, for example.
Why does this matter? This extra verification step to get into PeopleSoft HR is due to new functionality and more services offered, all while increasing security for state employees. When you require a second form of authentication, security is increased as this additional factor is more difficult for an attacker to obtain or duplicate.
How do I know if I already have MFA setup? Go to https://on.in.gov/MFA and sign in with your existing credentials (username and password) that you use today. If you already have either one of Authenticator or Phone enabled, you do not have to take any additional steps.
If you do not have any option enabled, click the Add Method button and follow the prompts.
State websites/applications proxying traffic through Cloudflare
Securing the State's technical infrastructure is one of the Office of Technology's statutory duties, and the agency is constantly improving Indiana's security posture. A new effort is underway to increase website and web application security by employing the services of Cloudflare.
What is Cloudflare? Cloudflare is a service that hides the IP address and URL of web-facing services, identifies and blocks dangerous traffic and includes denial of service protections. Cloudflare reduces the footprint that attackers can use to launch an attack.
Phase 1: IOT will deploy phase 1 on Sunday, September 11th. Approximately 2,600 websites/web applications in the State will begin proxying their traffic through Cloudflare. During this initial phase, all sites will be configured in a logging-only mode within Cloudflare's system, eliminating or minimizing the interruption of any services.
Phase 2: IOT plans to launch phase 2 on Sunday, October 9th, which turns on Cloudflare's malicious traffic blocking features. Using data from phase one, IOT will decide if any sites would be abnormally impacted by the protections put in place and exclude them.
IOT will annually evaluate any sites excluded in phase 2 to resolve open questions or concerns and schedule individual rollout dates. The agencies and IOT will determine the launch dates of these sites.
If you have any questions regarding these changes, please open a ticket with the IOT Helpdesk and ask that it be routed to the IOT Operational Security team.
Once SEAL associates, now IOT employees
Since the State Earn and Learn (SEAL) IT Program began in 2020, the Indiana Office of Technology has successfully hired eight full-time employees from the program.
The SEAL IT Program reskills a diverse population of adult citizens from many different occupations into public-sector IT professionals.
Associates receive highly engaged, customized coaching and mentoring from workplace supervisors, a program director, and a vendor partner (Brooksource). As they take on responsibilities reflecting entry-level experience at IOT, associates receive paid-study opportunities built upon a successful preparation curriculum model that is tailored to each certification.
Recent graduate Jen Zwarycz said," It might be cliché, but the SEAL Program really changed my life. I hope more people get the same opportunity that I got, because everyone associated with it is amazing. I am grateful every day that I work with the people that I do.”
There are 27 current SEAL associates on track for completing the program between November 2022 and July 2023.
Is your agency struggling to find IT talent? The Indiana Office of Technology can help you!
For more information reach out to SEAL Director Jon Rogers at jrogers1@iot.in.gov.
Behind the Tech: Ryan McVey
The Indiana Office of Technology was created to provide cost-effective, secure, consistent, reliable enterprise-technology services to state government. IOT offers more than 120 technology products supported and serviced by expert staff with licenses or certifications in 62 technical areas. Behind the Tech is a spotlight on the staff that provides services for 30,000 state employees.
Ryan McVey's role within IOT has evolved since he began supporting DOE/IOT in late 2018. Since that time he has assisted with the state’s Microsoft Azure Architecture and many projects.
At present, he acts as a principal within the Enterprise Architecture team, assists the IOT Public Cloud Operations team, consults executive agencies with their cloud initiative projects and helps to evaluate and implement new technologies that will help foster modern application lifecycle management practices.
What does an average day looks like for Ryan?
An average day is 60% collaboration, 25% design reviews and 25% research/testing platform integration with business processes - Yes that is 110% 😊," he said. "The favorite things about my job are the opportunities to work with many stakeholders and their objectives to help create overall new business outcomes. There is never a dull moment as initiatives are ever evolving."
What is something no one knows about Ryan?
"I do not necessarily like technology, I prefer to work outdoors and with my hands. Fortunately, technology just makes sense to me and it is the bottomless “rabbit hole”. In my youth, my nickname was “questions”, because I would never stop asking how and why."
Working at IOT, Ryan hopes to gain a better understanding of how his home state government operates and utilizes technology to fulfill its missions.