Baltimore IT office outlines budget priorities: broadband expansion, municipal ID, 311 and cybersecurity

A committee staff member opened the hearing by instructing participants not to request or disclose sensitive details of the 2019 ransomware attack because it remains an ongoing federal investigation. The staff member said the committee is limited in what it can discuss about the attack and about specific system vulnerabilities.

Interim Chief Information Officer Layla Layman presented the Baltimore City Office of Information and Technology’s budget and program priorities, telling the Ways and Means Committee the office’s mission is to “provide sustainable infrastructure and technology to support and enhance city agencies, communities, and businesses to meet city and mayoral goals.” She outlined eight service areas, including CityWatch camera monitoring, applications and Workday integration, 311, infrastructure and redundancy, broadband and digital equity, digital services, and a new municipal ID program.

Layman highlighted measurable improvements and specific program investments. She said the CityWatch camera network — more than 800 cameras —…