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County IT pushes Microsoft Copilot pilot, Starlink tests and security upgrades; commissioners ask for policy and budget follow‑up
Summary
IT director briefed commissioners on an AI pilot using Microsoft Copilot with data‑classification guardrails, endpoint security upgrades, SharePoint/OneDrive rollout, and Starlink/T‑Mobile trials to fix mobile deputy connectivity; commissioners requested a December policy draft and budget followups.
Walla Walla County's tech services director told commissioners on Oct. 13 that the county is piloting Microsoft Copilot inside its Microsoft 365 environment and developing an AI use policy to protect classified data.
Chad Goodhue said the county assembled a 14‑department trial group and is testing Copilot while exploring lower‑cost methods to classify and protect data (retrospective backup analysis) before investing in tools such as Varonis. “AI is intelligent; it's not wise,” Goodhue told the board, adding that a human review and a disclosure requirement for AI‑assisted work will be part of the forthcoming policy.
Cybersecurity and endpoint work
Goodhue described an ongoing effort to make the county's firewall and authentication infrastructure FIPS/CJIS compliant for criminal justice systems, the rollout of modern endpoint detection and response tools, and migration of files into SharePoint/OneDrive with appropriate exemptions for large Esri datasets.
Mobile data terminals and connectivity
After MDTs purchased earlier this year proved incompatible with evolving cellular networks, IT staff have been piloting Starlink vehicle units and T‑Mobile backup SIM options to improve deputy connectivity outside coverage areas. Goodhue said Starlink "has been amazing" in tests and argued it can also support radio over IP to extend radio reach in dead zones; commissioners asked IT to coordinate costs and bring budget options to the sheriff's office budget meeting.
Workday and records workload
Goodhue updated the board on a large public records request (22,000 pages) and said staff are using automation where possible; he also reported Workday/CanAm implementation progress and an 83% completion status for phase 1 implementation tasks.
Next steps
Goodhue said HR will lead the first AI‑policy draft and promised a December packet for workshop review, with explicit guardrails for classified data and mandatory human review of AI outputs.
