Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1347847
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 MARCH 2021 12 COMMERCIAL What is the role of MITA? Our role is to assist govern- ment in four principal areas. The first is in developing and implementing digital strategies and policies. Secondly, we pro- vide the Public Administration with the digital infrastructure and services to sustain their on- going operations. Thirdly, we deliver horizontal digital plat- forms and vertical information systems based on the needs of departments or entities. Final- ly, we help in the promulgation and the increased use of digital technologies. The client is always the gov- ernment, but the end user in some cases is the public, is that right? MITA is owned 100% by gov- ernment and provides services solely to government. Although our direct client is the Public Administration, ultimately, the systems and services that we operate are utilised by minis- tries and entities to provide services to the general public or businesses. For example, if you receive pension benefits or children's allowance, these are delivered by Social Services, using systems developed, pro- vided, hosted, and maintained by MITA. MITA has just launched a three- year strategy, focused around seven main pillars. What is the ultimate aim of this strategy? Where does MITA hope this strategy will take it by end of 2023? The new strategy is for three years, covering the period 2021 to 2023, and with a vision of 'Committed To A Digital Fu- ture'. The digital scenario changes fast and continuously; you can never say that you have done enough. It might be good for today, and perhaps, tomor- row. But today you need to plan for tomorrow and the day after that. Through our services, we are committed to remain rele- vant not only for now but even for the future. How do we do this? As our mission statement says, we provide direction but we also implement solutions. We do not simply say what should be done, but we also provide the tools necessary to implement the vision. Our strategy is based on seven pillars, or domains as we like to call them. At the core of our work is our data centre, built to international standards, from where we operate most of gov- ernment's critical information systems and where the associ- ated data, which the public and businesses entrust with gov- ernment, is stored. We ensure that, through the government network which we operate, these systems and data are, at any point in time, safely ac- cessible by ministries, depart- ment, entities and embassies. The second domain relates to information systems. We implement and maintain hori- zontal platforms which are used internally within Gov- ernment; these include email system and collaboration plat- form. We also implement solutions which are common across Government and which enable the implementation of workflows, sending SMSs (e.g., with results), allowing online payments, etc. Then we also develop, implement, maintain and modernise vertical sys- tems used by specific depart- ments such as the law courts, social policy, Income Tax , VAT and health.Our strategy sees us to continuously assist government in strengthening its vision to deliver services of excellence. Therefore, a third domain focuses on emerging technologies and data. We en- able data sharing, of course within legal parameters, and concepts such as Once-only for data already in Government's possession, and a single ver- sion of the truth in terms of, for example, a person's name and address. We are committed to make full use of innovative technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things, and best utilisation of data to offer better services. A key domain focuses on in- formation security to which we give utmost priority in everything that we do. We have recently launched a Secu- rity Operations Centre which, on an ongoing basis, monitors the landscape, and uses tools and resources to minimise se- curity risk, and to take proper measures. This domain also includes Cyber Security, the importance of which is always on the increase as more peo- ple work and transact online. We implement awareness ses- sions to different audiences, be it public officials, citizens and businesses. As this strategy is a testament of, all that we do is done adopt- ing a strategic approach, and hence another domain. We are involved in and assist at both national and Public Ad- ministration level in drafting and setting up digital policies, strategies and roadmaps. As we talk, together with key part- ners, we are working on draft- ing the new National Cyber Se- curity strategy. We also represent Malta on various EU and national com- mittees. Our strategic plan is supplemented by compre- hensive yearly business plans which establish key milestones and detail resource require- ment to implement the strat- The Malta Information Technology Agency is behind the government's inroads into approachable user- friendly e-services while providing secure and sound IT access across all government. PAUL COCKS spoke to MITA's Ing Emanuel Darmanin on the agency's new three-year strategy plan, emerging technology and the challenges ahead Emanuel Darmanin Technology for a better government