Washington Technology Solutions is celebrating its 10th anniversary, but its roots reach back more than 50 years.
In 1973, when using punch cards were state of the art, the Legislature created the state Data Processing Authority to navigate the early days of computing. In 1987, as technology advanced, the Department of Information Services (DIS) was launched, laying the groundwork for shared IT infrastructure.
Then in 2011, the Legislature formed a new tech agency: Consolidated Technology Services, which included the Office of the Chief Information Officer, the old DIS and other divisions.
Four years later, in 2015, that agency got a new name, and a larger mission. It became Washington Technology Solutions, or WaTech. The creation of the Office of Cybersecurity and the Office of Privacy and Data Protection within WaTech rounded out the agency.