Governor Timothy M. Kaine will present the Governor's Technology Awards to this year's winners at COVITS on September 8 in Williamsburg. Winning entries in eight categories will be announced and presented, including honorees from local government, higher education, state entities and telework practictioners. Following this awards ceremony, the Governor also will receive an award on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia, for its 2008 first place rank in the national Best of the Web contest. This prestigious award will be presented by Cathilea Robinett, Executive Director of the Center for Digital Government.

The special $99 government rate for COVITS has been extended through the opening day of the annual event, which features an outstanding lineup of speakers and workshops in addition to the awards ceremonies.

Read about COVITS and the Governor's Technology Awards

Register for COVITS

Virginia’s official state Web site has been named first in the nation among the 50 states in the Center for Digital Government’s annual Best of the Web program. The winning new Web site design went live in June. It features a clean, open design and uses colorful imagery to invite participation in online services; new "Web 2.0" functionality enhances the user experience.

Virginia also received 2008 Digital Government Achievement Awards from the Center. The Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy’s e-forms initiative and the Department of Taxation’s telework program both were honored with the prestigious awards; the City of Newport News also was honored for its Open eGov program.

Virginia's state portal has been ranked in the top five of the Best of the Web standings every year that it has been eligible to compete and is the only state to be so honored. The portal was ranked first once before, in 2002, and did not compete the following year according to competition rules. Last year, the Commonwealth site was ranked third in the prestigious competition. The state portal and its effective use of digital government tools make it easier for users to conduct their business with government. Measurable cost and personnel efficiencies are realized through this strategy.

Read the Governor's news release

Read the Center for Digital Government's official announcement

Visit the state Web portal

The August Service Bulletin highlights new statewide contracts for 508 compliance products and services now available for use. Also, the early bird government registration rate for COVITS has been extended through opening day.

Read the August Service Bulletin

Subscribe to the Service Bulletin

The Commonwealth's Information Security Officers Advisory Group (ISOAG) meeting was held August 20 with 111 participants from the executive branch (including higher education), judicial and legislative branches of government, independent agencies and localities. Keynote presentations included those on Altiris at Longwood University by Dr. Brian Kraus, Longwood University; Telework Expense Policy, Mark Murray, Department of Accounts; Telecommuting Policy & Practice, Rue White, Department of Human Resource Management; Remote Access at Corrections, Rick Davis & Felicia Stretcher, Department of Corrections; Monitoring Internet Use Successfully, Cameron Caffee, Department of Transportation; and Intro to Blue Coat Reporter, Kevin Ferlazzo, Department of Juvenile Justice. The session was hosted by Commonwealth Chief Information Security Officer Peggy Ward and VITA. The next meeting is September 18 from 1:00-4:00 p.m.

View meeting materials

The August issue of Information Security Tips provides users information on firewalls. Firewalls are a software program or hardware device that filters the inbound and outbound traffic between your network or computer and the Internet. Firewalls add a layer of protection by blocking unauthorized and potentially dangerous data from entering your computer or network. This newsletter provides information related to specific security standards for state employees and general information that home computer users will find valuable in protecting against cyber and information attacks.

Read Information Security Tips