Sacks departed from the Indiana Office of Technology in March and now works for SHI International Corporation, according to his LinkedIn. He has been replaced by interim CISO Hemant Jain, said spokesperson Graig Lubsen.
"Jain's been a key contributor on the security team and we are confident in his leadership abilities for that role," said Lubsen.
Until March, Jain was serving as the state's director of security operations. He has significant experience in the private sector, as well as previous stints in state and federal government. Previously, he spent some 11 years working for IT company NetApp, as well as four years at IBM; he also worked as a network administrator for the Michigan Department of Transportation, and spent time with the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency.
As to a more permanent CISO, Lubsen said the state is currently looking to filling the role, but that new hiring has been complicated of late. "We are working on a search plan, but that's been slowed down by COVID-19," he said.
The economic pressure that the virus has put on state budgets is immense, and states across the country are beginning to see effects when it comes to hiring and services. Recently, Indiana announced that it had faced a $900 million budget hole from the last fiscal year, the shortfall of which would partially be covered through cuts to state agencies.
"We are currently looking at a budget review and an overall analysis of the team. We do not have a timeline on when the role will be filled," he said. Whenever the role is filled, OIT will seek to make a choice that pays off for the state's residents, he added.
"This involves looking at a number of factors — not just dollars and cents. The most important factor is how this hire will affect our citizens and how can we approach the role to maximize its usefulness," said Lubsen.
