CONNECTIONS

IDAHO
ITD HOME
IDAHO DMV
ITD NEWS
HIGHWAY SAFETY
IDAHO STATE POLICE

TRAVEL SERVICES
STATE OF IDAHO


NATIONAL
AASHTO
AAMVA
AAA of IDAHO
FEDERAL HIGHWAYS
FEDERAL AVIATION
IDAHO STATE POLICE
NHTSA
NTSB
TRB
U.S. DOT

 

Idaho Transportation
Department

Public Affairs Office
P.O. Box 7129
Boise, ID 83707
208.334.8005
Fax: 208.334.8563
Email


Anderson leads effort to provide secure
computer environment for ITD

Approaching the start of a fourth decade at the Idaho Transportation Department, Forrest Anderson has held an array of positions, but none so challenging and rewarding as his new assignment.

In March 2005 he assumed a special assignment to look at the cyber security of the department’s information systems and to create an enterprise security program, based on an analysis of what the department is doing well.

Today, Anderson focuses on cyber security services – protecting the department’s information assets, including data, complex systems and processes. He was named the department’s first Information Technology Security Coordinator.

As far as he knows, Anderson is the first state employee assigned full-time, exclusive responsibility for developing and maintaining an agency's a cyber security program. ITD created the position in response to a statewide directive from the Department of Administration’s ITRMC (Information Technology Resource Management Council) and as part of the Corporate IT reorganization.

ITD and the state of Idaho adopted a framework that was initially developed by the International Standards Organization that prescribed a code of best practices for information security management.

“Security is something I’ve been interested in for many years and have been involved in for some time,” Anderson says. It began as an added responsibility to his work in the Information Services (now Corporate Information Technology) section.

Business drivers and impacts
Cyber Security is about the protection of Information assets by ensuring the confidentiality, integrity and availability of those assets
Identify and address risks to business operations and information systems
Identify and align the need for security controls with business area goals and system needs
Promote security awareness for ITD management and employees
Improve communications on security-related issues
Establish a process for continual improvement of the department’s security posture
Focus on security-related issues of greatest importance and cost effectiveness

It has been a long journey from his first job as a Right-of-Way tracer who put engineering drawings into a permanent format. Beginning in 1976, Anderson has worked in District 3 design, served in the Army, returned to become a draftsman in the Bridge Section, worked in Traffic and in 1982 became part of Information Services after completing an agency-sponsored training program.

He has worked with computer aided drafting systems, UNIX computer systems, Windows servers and high-performance personal computers, and managed the help desk for computer support.

Security has been a common element throughout his professional migration.

In his present capacity, Anderson is responsible for:

  • Coordinating all Corporate Information Technology security-related functions
  • Serving as a liaison between ITD management, Enterprise Architecture, business areas and functional support areas
  • Coordinating incident monitoring, reporting and response
  • Implementing and coordinating compliance reviews, remediation and enforcement, and
  • Assisting in the review, recommendation and implementation of security-related technology and services

The mission of ITD’s Cyber Security Office is to provide protection for the department’s information resources and assets by establishing and promoting an Enterprise Cyber Security Program based on a standard security framework and best practices.

Published 3-31-06