CMO Technology & E-Government 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the main advantage of using a GIS (Geographic Information System) in municipal operations?
- It replaces the need for finance software
- It visualizes and analyzes spatial data to support planning, infrastructure, and emergency management decisions (Correct answer)
- It automates all HR functions
- It provides a social media platform for residents
Correct answer: It visualizes and analyzes spatial data to support planning, infrastructure, and emergency management decisions
GIS enables municipalities to layer and analyze geographic data, improving decisions in zoning, utilities, public safety, and emergency response.
Question 2: A municipality adopts a 'digital-by-default' service strategy. What accommodation MUST still be provided?
- Mandatory smartphone apps for all services
- Alternative non-digital access channels for residents who cannot use online services (Correct answer)
- Elimination of all in-person service counters
- Weekly printed newsletters to all residents
Correct answer: Alternative non-digital access channels for residents who cannot use online services
Digital-by-default must be paired with accessible alternatives to avoid excluding residents with disabilities, limited internet access, or low digital literacy.
Question 3: Which cryptographic method is recommended for securing data in transit between a municipal web portal and users?
- FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
- TLS (Transport Layer Security) via HTTPS (Correct answer)
- Telnet with password authentication
- HTTP with IP whitelisting
Correct answer: TLS (Transport Layer Security) via HTTPS
TLS encrypts data in transit and is required for HTTPS connections, protecting resident data from interception.
Question 4: A city wants to use facial recognition technology for law enforcement. Which governance step is MOST important before deployment?
- Purchasing the most accurate commercial system available
- Conducting a privacy impact assessment and establishing a public policy with council approval (Correct answer)
- Deploying immediately to test accuracy in real scenarios
- Limiting access to the police chief only
Correct answer: Conducting a privacy impact assessment and establishing a public policy with council approval
A privacy impact assessment and public policy process ensures civil liberties protections, legal compliance, and community trust before deployment.
Question 5: What is the purpose of a municipal technology master plan?
- To list every piece of hardware in city offices
- To provide a multi-year roadmap aligning technology investments with strategic goals and budget cycles (Correct answer)
- To replace the annual IT department budget request
- To document staff complaints about outdated equipment
Correct answer: To provide a multi-year roadmap aligning technology investments with strategic goals and budget cycles
A technology master plan connects IT investments to organizational priorities over a multi-year horizon, guiding budgeting and decision-making.
Question 6: A city deploys chatbots on its website to handle resident inquiries. Which risk must be actively managed?
- Chatbots consuming too much electricity
- Providing inaccurate information that misleads residents about government services or deadlines (Correct answer)
- Residents enjoying self-service too much
- Chatbots becoming more popular than in-person service
Correct answer: Providing inaccurate information that misleads residents about government services or deadlines
AI chatbots can generate incorrect responses; municipalities must monitor accuracy to avoid misleading residents on legal deadlines or eligibility.
Question 7: Under NIST's Cybersecurity Framework, which function involves detecting the occurrence of a cybersecurity event?
- Identify
- Protect
- Detect (Correct answer)
- Respond
Correct answer: Detect
The 'Detect' function in the NIST CSF covers the processes and tools for identifying cybersecurity events in a timely manner.
