Sunday, May 24, 2020

Ohio DNR's limited interim web site up and running

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ interim web site is up and running, though on only three legs.

Taken down May 8th to “address a potential security concern,” the foiled electronic battering ram did not penetrate the Natural Resources’ multi-layered protection protocols, at the time said Ohio Department of Administrative Services’ director of communications, Bill Teets.

Thus, no sensitive data – such as that containing personal information about hunting and fishing license buyers - occurred, Teets said also at the time.

The Natural Resources Departments web site sees about two million “hits” monthly.

Generally, when it comes to security issues we really cannot talk about it much, but an issue was identified and we addressed it,” Teets said.

A much reduced web site was installed the following day though it contained only links to contractors who handle the sale of hunting-fishing licenses, state park reservations, and boat registrations. This product was realized about May 21st.

Of limited scope this interim web site still does not contain such features as access to lake fishing maps, wildlife area maps, state forest maps, information about individual state parks as well as the ability to register Fish Ohio applications.

However, the Natural Resources Department is working on revamping this interim web site as the agency and Administrative Services works toward a more complete and polished product, spokesmen for both agencies have said.


Right now we are making sure to meet all legal requirements, while ensuring that the content users consider in highest demand is provided,” said Natural Resources Department spokeswoman Sarah Wickham in a prepared statement.
 
As the site is a work in progress, our team is working diligently to restore functions like the Fish Ohio Application, lake and wildlife area maps. Those will be back up as soon as possible.”

Wickham said, too, hunters “will have no problem applying for controlled hunts.” as “the information will be available on the temporary site.”
Likewise, says, Wickham, “news releases will be added as they are released.”

Our team is working to get the new permanent site up and running as quickly as possible. We do not have a definitive date set for launch as of right now,” Wickham said.

- Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischk@Ameritech.net
JFrischk4@gmail.com

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