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AnnualReport2021UI ITSCN A S WA U I I n f o r m a t i o n T e c h n o l o g y S u p p o r t C e n t e rIn Partnership with USDOL

ABOUT UI ITSCINTRODUCTIONThe Unemployment Insurance Information Technology Support Center (UI ITSC) is a unique nationalcollaboration of the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA), the U.S. Department of Labor(USDOL) and all state workforce agencies. The UI ITSC promotes the development of information technologysolutions and information sharing among state UI agencies. This annual report highlights the activities andaccomplishments of UI ITSC from October 2020 to September 2021.MISSIONUI ITSC fosters partnerships to advance thecontinuous improvement of the modernization ofunemployment insurance and collaboration withworkforce programs.HISTORYIn 1994, UI ITSC was founded through a grant fromUSDOL. Since 2009, NASWA has operated UI ITSCwith funding from USDOL through an agreementwith the State of Maryland.UI ITSC facilitates the exchange of ideas andpractices among states, and provides products,services, and training that help states leveragetechnology to meet evolving needs.WHAT WE DOSTEERING COMMITTEE 2020-2021The UI ITSC Steering Committee provides strategicguidance and direction for UI ITSC. Membership iscomprised of state and federal representatives of theunemployment insurance and IT areas.STATE WORKFORCE ADMINISTRATORSAnna HuiMOBrett Flachsbarth*KSDavid GerstenfeldORUNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE DIRECTORSDaryle Dudzinski, Vice-ChairCTJulie SmithOHKevin BurtUTWilliam Walton, ChairVAINFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORSJeff MayGANeil ShahIASue Anne AthensNMU.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR REPRESENTATIVESJim GarnerUSDOLSubri Raman **USDOL* Served until June 2021. ** Served until May 2021.1 UI ITSC Annual Report 2021UI IT MODERNIZATION Support states on UI business processimprovement and IT modernization. Identify and share state practices and facilitatecommunication among states. Provide support from planning, through go-live,and into stabilization and maintenance.TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Support state technical projects includingapplication support, technical standards andguidelines development, domain specific staffaugmentation, and assessment services.PRODUCTS & TOOLS Provide cost-effective products and tools thatstates can leverage. Develop, distribute, and support productsand tools, such as: shared UI componentsand modules; model projects and prototypes;project management portals; and other tools.EDUCATION & TRAINING Develop educational materials and trainingprograms for UI agencies on UI IT systems,processes, and the modernization life cycle. Deliver training as interactive self-paced onlinelessons and as instructor-led classes conductedby UI and IT subject matter experts.

UI IT MODERNIZATION &TECHNICAL ASSISTANCEUI ITSC supports states on UI business process improvements and IT modernization by identifying state practices,facilitating communication, sharing information among states, and providing advisory services. Additionally, UI ITSC providesthe status of state UI IT modernization projects and offers resources to assist states with technology projects.Advisory Support ServicesCloud ServicesUI ITSC leverages its vast UI IT Modernizationdevelopment and implementation project experience,including its hands-on participation in many states'successful go-lives and subsequent system stabilizationactivities. UI ITSC provides advisory support by usingits significant experience and knowledge of systemimplementations to assist states in successfully navigatingthrough impediments, hurdles, issues, and challengesto achieve a successful go-live, as well as effectivestabilization and maintenance phases.During the COVID-19 pandemic states, with modernizedsystems in the Cloud benefited greatly from the abilityto swiftly expand computing resources to accommodatethe increased claims loads. Over the last five years UI ITSChas focused on providing Cloud advice and expertise tothe states.UI ITSC currently has active projects supporting thefollowing states with modernization efforts: CA, AR,DC, DE, IA, KS, KY, MA, MO, MS, MT, ND, NV, NY, OH,OK, PA, VI, and WV. These states are at various stagesof modernization. UI ITSC also provides ongoing adhoc support to states as they continue to enhancetheir systems. This includes the InnovateUI Consortiumcomprised of states (MS, ME, MO, WY, and CT) witha common vendor and working together in sharingcomponents and technologies to sustain their systemsand ongoing operations.With the economies of scale pricing advantages, theincreased availability of FedRAMP compliant services, andthe elasticity and rapid scalability of computing resources,the prevalence of Cloud use worldwide and within the UIdomain is quickly growing.UI ITSC continues to work with states in their explorationsand implementations, providing expertise across thevarious Cloud providers covering, but not limited to:f Security (FISMA, NIST, FedRAMP compliance)f SSA and IRS FTI TOP implementationsf Cloud services (e.g., monitoring, DevOps,autoscaling, caching, datastore options,elasticsearch, ETL, IoT, etc.)f Migration strategiesf Disaster recovery and backup, etc.UI ITSC is a national conduit for the sharing of states'technologies, methods, and processes, helping topromote improved customer service and staff efficienciesand productivity. Through outreach and collaboration, UIITSC conducts several forums on numerous topics withstate agencies ranging from adopting new technologiesto sustaining and evolving current investments.Recently, UI ITSC developed a "Dos and Don'ts forCloud services" document for states beginning theprocess of adopting Cloud technologies. This documentis available to states upon request. More information onCloud services is available on the UI ITSC website.UI Benefits SystemsUI Tax V INMOPAOHWV 1010PLANNINGUI ITSC Annual Report 2021 2

UI IT MODERNIZATION &TECHNICAL ASSISTANCEMassachusettsEmployment Modernizationand Transformation ProgramUI ITSC, together with Workforce ITSC, is workingwith the Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Laborand Workforce Development (“EOLWD”) to provideadvisory services in support of a modernized andtransformed EOLWD. This project marks the first jointeffort with UI ITSC and Workforce ITSC in providingadvisory support to a state on an integrated UI andWorkforce System.EOLWD is undertaking a multi-year program toimplement a comprehensive transformation of thepolicies, processes, and systems that support theoperations of the Department of UnemploymentAssistance and the MassHire Department of CareerServices. The program is called the EmploymentModernization and Transformation (“EMT”)program. The goals of the EMT program are tocreate operational and supporting technologiesthat provide the workforce and employers of theCommonwealth with significantly improved accessto, and delivery and management of, unemploymentand re-employment benefits and services. As a resultof this program, EOLWD seeks to transform businessoperations, modernize technology, and fortify thesecurity of core systems.In support of the EMT program, NASWA’s UI ITSCand Workforce ITSC staff is uniquely positionedto provide knowledge of USDOL priorities,understanding of the full scope of the administrationof unemployment and re-employment benefits, bestpractices across the nation by state unemploymentand re-employment agencies, and the vendorcommunity that support those agencies.3 UI ITSC Annual Report 2021National View of UI IT SystemsIn 2010, UI ITSC published “A National View of UIIT Systems,” a report that captured the status andcondition of state UI IT systems and modernizationefforts.In July 2021, UI ITSC distributed the comprehensivesurvey and will be conducting follow up interviewsto update the 2010 report with the current status ofstate UI IT Systems.The 2021 survey and report will present UI ITModernization efforts, challenges, and lessonslearned from across the nation in the last ten years.UI ITSC is expected to release this report on thesurvey results by October 2021.2010 Key FindingsBelow are some key findings from the 2010 reportwhich will be compared to the results of the currentsurvey:f The vast majority of UI IT systems are old – andbased on outmoded programming languages.f State UI IT systems are costly and difficult tosupport.f Most state IT systems cannot efficiently handletoday’s demands.f Modernized systems lower costs and improveservices and staff productivity.In the last decade, the 2010 study and thesefindings have impacted the conversation on stateUI IT systems and modernization. The studyhas been referenced in numerous news articles,Congressional testimonies, and other reports andstudies.

PRODUCTS & TOOLS UI ITSC provides cost-effective products and tools that states can leverage. It also develops, distributes,and supports these products, which include UI components and modules, model projectsand prototypes, project management portals, and various other tools.UI ITSC Website RefreshSecurity Resources for UIIn March, UI ITSC launched a new and updatedwebsite. Last year, UI ITSC began an effort to reviewand update content on its website. In addition, the UIITSC redesigned the look and feel of the website tofollow the branding of the NASWA website and beresponsive for mobile devices.In December, NASWA and UI ITSC held a webinaron UIPL 4-21 which focuses on security of UI ITsystems. During the webinar, NASWA’s security teamhighlighted sections of the UIPL that are importantfor UI IT systems and shared resources and servicesthat NASWA provides to state workforce agencies.The UI ITSC’s website is a unique resource for the UIcommunity to share and access information on ITtools and solutions related to the UI program. Thenew website features:Security Preparation Checklist and WebsiteNASWA emphasized the need for states to reviewthe changes to NIST SP800-53 with Revision 5.NASWA released updated resources such as securityguidelines for UI IT modernization and a securitypreparation checklist in February, using the guidancefrom SP800-53 Rev 5. NASWA also launched acentral location for states to access updated securityresources on the UI ITSC website.New Design, Look and FeelFollows the overall branding for NASWA and is fullyresponsive for any device or browser which providesa better and cohesive experience for our members.Updated UI IT Modernization Status MapsUI ITSC provides an overview status of state UI ITmodernization projects. The maps now display thestatus of UI Benefits and Tax systems separately.UI IT Security ResourcesImproved UI IT Security section for state and federalUI employees. Resources include checklists onpreparing for security audits, information on UI inthe Cloud, and “Security Guidance Supporting UI ITModernization.”Security Guidance SupportingUI IT ModernizationSecurity GuidanceSupporting UI IT ModernizationUI ITSC released a guidance document, “SecurityGuidance Supporting UI IT Modernization” whichprovides recommendations designed to support theinclusion of essential security controls as an integralpart of modernization efforts of UI IT systems. Thisdocument is based on NIST guidance provided bySP800-53, Revision 5, “Security and Privacy Controlsfor Information Systems and Organizations.” Itfocuses on the most critical areas addressed byindependent assessments; these are the areas that:1) are usually assessed, 2) often lead to negativefindings, and 3) have findings that are deemedcritical and require immediate remediation.In addition, UI ITSC developed and released aworksheet to accompany the checklist. It providesSystem Administrators a tool for quickly reviewingthe preparation of the system for assessments.It also provides management with a high-leveloverview of the security posture of the system.UI ITSC Annual Report 2021 4