The State of Illinois Modernizes IT, Delivering Secure Employee and Resident Digital Experiences
Customer Company Size
Large Corporate
Region
- America
Country
- United States
Product
- Okta Workforce Solutions
- Okta Single Sign-On
- Okta Universal Directory
- Okta Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication
- Okta Lifecycle Management
Tech Stack
- Zero Trust Framework
- Cloud-based Identity Provider
- Hybrid IT Infrastructure
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Customer Satisfaction
- Digital Expertise
Technology Category
- Cybersecurity & Privacy - Identity & Authentication Management
- Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Connectivity Platforms
- Networks & Connectivity - Network Management & Analysis Software
Applicable Functions
- Business Operation
Use Cases
- Cybersecurity
Services
- System Integration
- Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
- Cybersecurity Services
About The Customer
The State of Illinois is one of the most diverse states in the United States, with a population of nearly 13 million residents. It includes Chicago, the third-largest city in the country, as well as many smaller industrial cities and rural, agricultural communities. The state organizes a diverse set of agencies, boards, and commissions to serve its distinct constituency. In 2018, the state legislature created the Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) to modernize IT systems across state agencies, with a focus on improving employee and resident experiences. DoIT's mission is to empower residents, businesses, and visitors in the State of Illinois through high-value, customer-centric technology, delivering best-in-class innovation to client agencies and fostering collaboration.
The Challenge
The State of Illinois faced challenges with an aging IT infrastructure, characterized by siloed operations within each sub-agency, leading to inefficiencies and a lack of standards. This resulted in a legacy technology stack with thousands of applications, making it difficult for employees and residents to access tools and services. Additionally, the state faced an aggressive threat landscape, with an increasing number of public ransomware instances and sophisticated threat actors targeting government entities. The pandemic further increased demands on government agencies, requiring quick and creative responses to meet these challenges.
The Solution
The Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT) led an extensive IT modernization initiative, adopting a Zero Trust framework and placing identity at the strategic center. They chose Okta for its unified approach to identity and access management (IAM), bringing standardization, scale, and interoperability to the state's hybrid infrastructure. The team initially focused on modernizing digital interactions for residents accessing services externally and state employees accessing internal resources. During the Covid-19 pandemic, DoIT deployed Okta Workforce solutions to state employees, securing access to critical applications and building trust with other state agencies. They also collaborated with Salesforce to build a contact tracing solution and streamlined Illinois' unemployment insurance system using Okta's Customer Identity products. The team branded their Okta-powered resident experience project as 'ILogin,' expanding the scope to include new and legacy applications for the state's residents and agencies.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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