HR Insider Winter 2026 edition

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

New EADM Web Application

Be Alert For Deepfake Based Social Engineering

I T is currently developing a new Edwards Aquifer Data Management (EADM) web application designed to support well, timeseries, and site data entry for the Data Management Team. This application will integrate with EAGIS and provide users with intuitive graphical displays to support data review and analysis. Development is underway, and more updates will be shared as the project progresses.

C ybercriminals are increasingly using AIgenerated audio and video—known as deepfakes—to imper sonate coworkers, supervisors, or vendors. These attacks are designed to trick users into sharing sensi tive information, approving financial transactions, or granting system access. Deepfakes are becoming more realistic and harder to detect, making user awareness more important than ever. What staff should do: ⚠ Verify unexpected requests through a separate communication channel. ⚠ Be cautious of urgent or unusual instructions, even if the voice or video appears familiar. ⚠ Report any suspicious communication to IT.

IT Automation Initiatives IT is partnering with the Modeling Team to automate several manual processes involved in generating graphi cal reports. Our goal is to expand automation across the agency to streamline workflows, reduce manual effort, and improve overall efficiency. By leveraging tools such as GitHub Actions and Power Automate, IT plans to help staff enhance and automate manual processes..

2025 System Uptime Thanks to proactive system monitoring and resilient infrastructure, our average uptime has remained above 99% throughout 2025 . This level of availability is a direct result of our IT team’s diligence and our continued focus on service reliability.

Online Reporting Portal Rebuild Coming Q2 2026

I T plans to rebuild the Online Reporting Portal in Q2 of 2026. This update will align the portal’s design and func tionality with the agency’s website, creating a more consis tent and streamlined user experience. The redesigned portal will offer improved performance, modular architecture, and a more userfriendly menu and layout to support reporting activities and tank registrations. If you have any suggestions or feature request, please speak with the IT team or email itgroup@edwardsaquifer.org.

New Security Tools Implemented

IT has implemented new cybersecurity tools, including Abnormal AI and Rapid7. These tools help us better manage the high volume of phishing emails received and reduce vulnerabilities across agency devices. We have already seen significant improvements in our overall security posture and look for ward to introducing additional cyber security enhancements in 2026.

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