Streamlining Compliance

In this session, we will explore how to effectively streamline compliance by navigating the complexities of IT Policy, Security Design Review (SDR), and the Waiver Process Workflow. Attendees will learn about the key steps involved in each process, best practices for achieving compliance with minimal friction, and how to efficiently manage exceptions through waivers. This presentation aims to simplify these essential components, helping teams ensure alignment with IT governance while optimizing operational efficiency.

Kim Hort
Deputy CISO Policy & Program Management
WaTech

Kim Hort is a seasoned government professional with over 17 years of dedicated experience in the public sector. She has served in various leadership roles, including two years as the IT Director for Cowlitz County, where she skillfully managed a team of 15 direct reports. Her expertise also spans five years of proficient management in IT Enterprise Resource Planning. 

Currently serving as the WaTech Deputy CISO for Policy and Program Management, Kim plays a pivotal role in shaping the state’s cybersecurity landscape. She enjoys collaborating with IT teams, contractors, and subject matter experts to drive and sustain successful projects. Her demonstrated expertise includes safeguarding data integrity, providing strategic cybersecurity direction, and ensuring the stability of financial and human resource capital information systems operations. 

Samantha Zee
Enterprise Technology Policy Manager
WaTech

Samantha Zee is the Enterprise Technology Policy Manager at WaTech’s Policy & External Affairs team, a role she took on in August 2024. She is responsible for working with policy owners and stakeholders to ensure state IT policies are current, aligned, and well-organized.

Before joining WaTech, Samantha served as Division Manager at Front Desk, where she oversaw operations and strategy for a 24/7 answering service call center. She also held the role of Travel Services Program Specialist at Western Washington University, managing policy compliance and procurement.

Samantha holds a BA in History and an MBA, both from Western Washington University, and is based in Bellingham, Washington.

Dwayne Thomas
Security Design Review Supervisor
Watech

Dwayne Thomas began his career as a middle school teacher in New York before transitioning into the field of cybersecurity. With a master’s degree in information management from the University of Oregon, Dwayne brought his diverse background to various roles in IT security, quality assurance, and Agile project management in both healthcare and insurance sectors. His experience on software product development teams further solidified his expertise in security and risk management.

Currently, Dwayne serves as the Security Design Review (SDR) supervisor at WaTech’s state Office of Cybersecurity. In this role, he leads a team that evaluates and provides risk mitigation strategies for technology systems and platforms used by state agencies. The SDR team ensures that systems meet security standards and offers guidance on minimizing vulnerabilities in both new and upgraded platforms.

Dwayne’s approach to cybersecurity is rooted in proactive risk assessment, with a focus on implementing configurations that best serve the needs of the state’s agencies. His strategic and technical insights are key to the state’s efforts to safeguard its technology infrastructure. Dwayne joined WaTech with a commitment to improving cybersecurity practices and strengthening the state’s overall security posture.