Computer Training & Security (Houston, TX)
| Tracking # |
21909 |
| Submitted | Oct. 27, 2014 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Alex Guichet
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act , I hereby request the following records:
Any slides, memos, e-mails, or training materials issued to employees relating to the operation of electronic devices (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) issued since 2011 regarding the following topics:
1. Data Security (including the usage and configuration of Anti-Virus, Firewalls, Password reset policies, and VPNs.)
2. Whole Disk Encryption (and required configuration settings)
3. Mobile Device Management provisioning (including information on settings for tracking and restrictions placed on devices by installed device management profiles)
Additionally, I request information on Operating System and Application update requirements, such as standards in place requiring employees to update or not update devices, including emails and communications where IT departments request that employees defer updates from being applied immediately.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Alex Guichet
From: LGL Public Info
Please see attached letter pertaining to the above referenced request.
The City of Houston Legal Department
From: MuckRock
Hello,
Tiffany Evans, Assistant City Attorney for the City of Houston, has indicated that the attached public records request should be forwarded to you for processing. Confirmation of receipt and an estimated date of completion would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you very much for your help!
______________________
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Texas Public Information Act , I hereby request the following records:
Any slides, memos, e-mails, or training materials issued to employees relating to the operation of electronic devices (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) issued since 2011 regarding the following topics:
1. Data Security (including the usage and configuration of Anti-Virus, Firewalls, Password reset policies, and VPNs.)
2. Whole Disk Encryption (and required configuration settings)
3. Mobile Device Management provisioning (including information on settings for tracking and restrictions placed on devices by installed device management profiles)
Additionally, I request information on Operating System and Application update requirements, such as standards in place requiring employees to update or not update devices, including emails and communications where IT departments request that employees defer updates from being applied immediately.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Alex Guichet
From: Whalen, Jamil - IT
Good afternoon Mr Guichet,
This will officially serve as your response within the 10 days required by the statute.
The information your are requesting details information security standards, setting, encryption, etc. that are directly related to the information security of the City of Houston. This information is not subject to release according the Texas Public Information Act.
As such, no opinion is required from the Attorney General in regards to our denial of the requested information. I have included an excerpt from the statute below.
Thank you,
Jamil Whalen
Contract Administrator
Houston IT Services
GOVERNMENT CODE 552. PUBLIC INFORMATION
Sec. 552.139. EXCEPTION: CONFIDENTIALITY OF GOVERNMENT INFORMATION RELATED TO SECURITY OR INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES FOR COMPUTERS. (a) Information is excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021<http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us//GetStatute.aspx?Code=GV&Value=552.021&Date=11/5/2014> if it is information that relates to computer network security, to restricted information under Section 2059.055<http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us//GetStatute.aspx?Code=GV&Value=2059.055&Date=11/5/2014>, or to the design, operation, or defense of a computer network.
Sent on a Sprint Samsung Galaxy S® III
From: Whalen, Jamil - IT
Good evening Mr. Guichet-
We will, in fact, be seeking an opinion from the Attorney General despite the exception status given to “GOVERNMENT INFORMATION RELATED TO SECURITY OR INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES FOR COMPUTERS”. My previous email includes our reason for seeking the opinion from the Attorney General and the applicable section of the government code.
You should be receiving a copy of our written request for an opinion tomorrow.
Thank you,
Jamil Whalen
Contract Administrator
Houston IT Services
611 Walker Street 8th Floor
[cid:image002.jpg@01CFFEA8.E032F330]Houston, TX 77002
832-393-0220
Jamil.whalen@houstontx.gov<mailto:Jamil.whalen@houstontx.gov>
From: Whalen, Jamil - IT
Good afternoon Mr. Guichet,
Before moving forward, I am requesting some clarification about the contents of your request. This will help to better determine the best course of action to take. I want to start by saying that the City will not be able to waive the resulting charges of this request, so I requested that an estimate be compiled based on the request as it was received. I have been assured that cost will certainly be considerable, due to its broad nature, and the time it would take would be quite lengthy.
Although the City will seek to protect the requested information from disclosure based on the security and privacy exceptions mentioned in my previous email under the Texas Public Information Act, perhaps reducing the scope or narrowing the request, will bring down the high cost and prevent any unnecessary delays for the City and yourself.
In your email, you are requesting “any slides, memos, e-mails, or training materials issued to employees relating to the operation of electronic devices (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) issued since 2011”. It is unclear what you mean by “operation” when connected to the three topics you include (Data Security, Whole Disk Encryption, Mobile Device Management provisioning). With regard to the information within the parenthesis of the three topics, it is unclear what exactly the City is being asked to provide regarding the subtopics.
Also, in the portion of your request that asks for “ information on Operating System and Application update requirements, such as standards in place requiring employees to update or not update devices, including emails and communications where IT departments request that employees defer updates from being applied immediately”, it is unclear if this is connected to the 2011 timeframe and it is unclear and I cannot determine what you mean by “standards”.
If you would consider working with me to modify or amend your request, I will do what I can to help move the process along and reduce the time and cost concerns. If you would like to continue with your public information request, please contact me within sixty-one (61) days (as per Gov’t Code § 552.222) from today, 11/13/2014. If you haven’t responded within that timeframe, the City will have to consider your request withdrawn.
Thank you again,
Jamil Whalen
Contract Administrator
Houston IT Services
611 Walker Street 8th Floor
[cid:image003.jpg@01CFFF5E.E7FA8F40]Houston, TX 77002
832-393-0220
Jamil.whalen@houstontx.gov<mailto:Jamil.whalen@houstontx.gov>
From: Office of the City Secretary, Houston
An interim response, stating the request is being processed.
From: LGL Public Info
Attached is your copy of the letter sent to the Attorney General's Office.
The City of Houston Legal Department
From: MuckRock
Hello,
The attached request has received two separate tracking numbers:
* 21909
* 21872
Can you please clarify which is the appropriate one?
Thank you!
From: Office of the City Secretary, Houston
An interim response, stating the request is being processed.
From: LGL Public Info
Attached is your copy of the letter sent to the Attorney General's Office.
The City of Houston Legal Department
From: LGL Public Info
GC Number 21872 pertains to your initial open records request you submitted to the City of Houston City Secretary’s Office. On November 4, 2014, the legal department notified you that your open records request was misdirected to the wrong department and instructed you to forward your request to the Information Technology (“IT”) Department. A copy of that message is attached. That request (GC No. 21872) was officially closed.
Your current open records request, GC No. 21909, is the open records request you submitted to the IT department.
Sincerely,
The City of Houston Legal Department
From: Office of the City Secretary, Houston
An interim response, stating the request is being processed.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 27, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #21909.
Thank you for your help.
From: LGL Public Info
Good morning Mr. Guichet,
We cannot move forward on your open records request until you respond to Jamil Whalen’s email message to you dated November 13, 2014 requesting clarification.
From: MuckRock.com
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request, copied below, and originally submitted on Oct. 27, 2014. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further clarification is needed. You had assigned it reference number #21909.
Thank you for your help.
From: Whalen, Jamil - IT
Good afternoon Mr. Guichet,
I am requesting some clarification about the contents of your request. This will help to better determine the best course of action to take. I want to start by saying that the City will not be able to waive the resulting charges of this request, so I requested that an estimate be compiled based on the request as it was received. I have been assured that cost will certainly be considerable, due to its broad nature, and the time it would take would be quite lengthy.
Although the City will seek to protect the requested information from disclosure based on the security and privacy exceptions mentioned in my previous email under the Texas Public Information Act, perhaps reducing the scope or narrowing the request, will bring down the high cost and prevent any unnecessary delays for the City and yourself.
In your email, you are requesting “any slides, memos, e-mails, or training materials issued to employees relating to the operation of electronic devices (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) issued since 2011”.
It is unclear what you mean by “operation” when connected to the three topics you include (Data Security, Whole Disk Encryption, Mobile Device Management provisioning). Please clarify.
With regard to the information within the parenthesis of the three topics, it is unclear what exactly the City is being asked to provide regarding the subtopics. Please clarify.
Also, in the portion of your request that asks for “ information on Operating System and Application update requirements, such as standards in place requiring employees to update or not update devices, including emails and communications where IT departments request that employees defer updates from being applied immediately”;
it is unclear if this is connected to the 2011 timeframe and it is unclear and I cannot determine what you mean by “standards”. Please clarify.
If you would consider working with me to modify or amend your request, I will do what I can to help move the process along and reduce the time and cost concerns. If you would like to continue with your public information request, please contact me within sixty-one (61) days (as per Gov’t Code § 552.222) from today, 1/7/2015. If you haven’t responded within that timeframe, the City will have to consider your request withdrawn.
Thank you again,
Jamil Whalen
Contract Administrator
Houston IT Services
611 Walker Street 8th Floor
[cid:image002.jpg@01D02A9A.F908D460]Houston, TX 77002
832-393-0220
Jamil.whalen@houstontx.gov<mailto:Jamil.whalen@houstontx.gov>
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