New York State Office of Information Technology Services

ITS spotlights Nicolas Kelson, a Student Assistant Intern currently studying cybersecurity at The College of Saint Rose. An avid traveler, Nicolas seeks out new experiences in both his personal and professional life. He especially appreciates the opportunity to network with experienced and talented professionals. Nicolas encourages other students to apply to internship opportunities, especially in New York State public service.

In the latest issue of the ITS Tips Newsletter, learn how to recognize and avoid tech support scams.

Turn it Off and On Again: Avoiding Fake Tech Support Cybercrime Learn how to recognize and avoid tech support scams.

The Annual New York State Kids Safe Online Poster Contest, designed to engage young people in thinking about and help promote safe online practices, is now accepting entries. Entries are due December 20. Read the press release: its.ny.gov/press-release/its-launches-20th-annual-poster-contest

Only a few months ago, the world was severely affected by a global IT outage. Thanks to the talented IT professionals at ITS, systems in New York State were up and running within 24 hours, and all workstations were remediated shortly thereafter. On National IT Professionals Day, we appreciate the tech experts that stepped up during this crisis and keep the world operational every single day.

October is . Follow ITS and National Cybersecurity Alliance for tips and information throughout October. Learn more about what you can do to help .

September 13 is . ITS programmers work tirelessly to keep New Yorkers connected and productive. Programmers Make IT Happen.

The only way to protect New Yorkers from cybercriminals is to…act like cybercriminals?! Listen to the first-ever episode of “IT’S a Tech Podcast,” hosted by NYS CIO Dru Rai and featuring special guests Mark Bilanski and Jared Hoffman from the CISO Red Team. Learn more about how their crucial work strengthens New York State’s cybersecurity posture. https://its.ny.gov/tech-podcast-episode-1-ciso-red-team

What is a DDoS attack? A distributed denial-of-service cyberattack overloads a website or online service with traffic, crashing the service and preventing legitimate users from accessing it. Cybercriminals can use a botnet to perform this type of attack.

The ITS Student Assistant program allows for hands-on experience in every sector related to information technology, including law. ITS welcomes our interns and encourages them to take full advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Ready to learn more about all the cool things that ITS employees do? In one week, you can listen to "IT’S a Tech Podcast," featuring Mark Bilanski and Jared Hoffman from the CISO Red Team!

Many thanks to the volunteers that staffed the ITS booth and shared information on technology and cybersecurity with thousands of visitors at the Great New York State Fair!

ITS recognizes employees who reach a specific career milestone each month. This August, 31 ITS employees achieved career milestones of 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 years of service. Next month, ITS will recognize employees who reach milestones in September!

Learn the signs of a email. Does the sender:
1) Create a sense of urgency or claim to need help?
2) Ask for your personal info?
3) Want you to download a file or click on a link?
Visit its.ny.gov/phishing for more information.

ITS wishes all employees a safe and enjoyable Labor Day! Our offices are closed in observation of the holiday and will reopen on Tuesday, September 3.

Recognize the signs of a tech support scam. Use a known and trusted company for actual tech support. Never call a number on a pop-up warning that you don't recognize. Be wary of unsolicited phone calls from companies you don’t know claiming your computer has issues.

“The way you all worked as one united team was impressive, and I didn't want to let that go without giving you my deep, deep appreciation.” Governor Kathy Hochul joined ITS’s staff call to commend agency employees for their response to the global IT outage, getting systems back online within 24 hours and New York State employees back to work. Thank you, Governor, for taking the time to address ITS employees and for your continued partnership and support.

ITS spotlights Natasha Burns, Digital Information Officer for ITS. When she’s not singing, dancing, traveling, watching old sitcoms or just playing games with her friends, Natasha appreciates a good book. Growing up, her love of reading easily segued into a successful career in communications, and she truly enjoys what she does. Originally from Pennsylvania, little did she know her decision to pack up her car after college and move to New York would lead to a satisfying career in public service.

Visiting the The Great New York State Fair this week? Head over to the Center of Progress and visit our booth right next to the sand sculpture! ITS has activities for all ages to learn more about technology, and more!

Traveling for ? Practice good cybersecurity.
📶 Don’t access sensitive information on public Wi-Fi networks.
💻 Never leave your phone or laptop unattended in a public place.
📸 Share vacation photos on social media after you have returned home.

ITS offers career paths in exciting and dynamic fields, fostering professionals at every stage of their professional lives. Learn cutting-edge technology skills and make New York a better, safer place. Learn more: its.ny.gov/employment

ITS is showing off cool tech AND attitudes during the opening week of The Great New York State Fair! Stop by the ITS booth next to the sand sculpture in the Center of Progress Building and play some games, chat with some very talented folks, and learn great tips! Thank you to Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado for visiting our booth and greeting our volunteers!

An NY.gov ID allows New Yorkers to access the services they need with a single username and password. Have questions? Visit the NY.gov ID webpage on the ITS website.

NY.gov ID NY.gov ID enables both the public and NYS employees to securely access the services NYS agencies offer online.

In the latest issue of the ITS Tips Newsletter, learn easy practices to keep your family safe during .

Get Schooled on Cybersecurity Learn about the first line of defense in school cybersecurity: students.

On National Senior Citizen Day, teach senior citizens in your community how to recognize the signs of phishing and other cybercrime, including urgent requests, impersonating loved ones and requesting payment in gift cards. For helpful resources, visit its.ny.gov/phishing.

Guess the term! This term refers to pixelated squares that can be scanned to automatically pull up a specific website address, or URL, on your smartphone. They are convenient for sharing information but can also be exploited by cybercriminals.

It’s ! Taking some impressive shots of the ocean, the mountains while on vacation? If you share them on social media, you’re also sharing the fact that you are not home with possible bad actors. Consider waiting to post photos until you return from vacation.

It’s . Did you know that you can check your area’s water quality online? Visit the “Know Your Water” website, a collaborative project with the NYSDOH - New York State Health Department and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

NYS Water Quality This website provides information about the quality of New York’s public drinking water and our rivers, lakes and streams. water assessment, priority waterbodies, pwl factsheet, water quality information,DEC assessments, DEC water quality information, NYSDEC assessments, NYSDEC water assessments, ...

The Annual New York State Kids Safe Online Poster Contest, designed to engage young people in thinking about and help promote safe online practices, is now accepting entries. Entries are due December 20. View more info and entry guidelines: its.ny.gov/2024-2025-kids-safe-online-poster-contest

What is SMS? Short Message Service, or SMS, is a technology for sending short text messages between mobile phones. SMS can be leveraged in phishing scams, known as “smishing.”