Minnesota Agencies

MNIT Services has broad statutory authority under 16E.01 to establish state information technology (IT) direction and policy, to provide services, and to manage and direct state IT resources.

The Office of Enterprise Technology (OET) was formally established as a cabinet-level agency in July of 2005. The Office is led by the State Chief Information Officer and has had two primary responsibilities: set IT direction, standards and policies for the State and manage oversight and compliance of those standards; provide common (primarily infrastructure) IT services to executive branch and all levels of Minnesota government.

In 2011, OET's enabling statute was amended to consolidate the management of all information technology systems, budgets, services and resources under OET, significantly increasing the organization's responsibilities (see Laws of Minnesota 2011, 1st Spec. Sess., chapter 10, article 4, section 5ff). When expanded by this law, the organization encompassed over 2100 staff and a $400 million+ budget.

In April 2012 the Office of Enterprise Technology announced a name change to MN.IT Services. Their press release stated: "A new name acknowledges the change that is happening everywhere, and begins to build the brand and mindset among staff and customers that all of the State's IT services are MN.IT Services. The new name provides additional clarity on roles and relationships among MN.IT offices and staff, and helps to describe the organization in a clear and consistent way."

The Legislature established the Department of Information Technology Services in 2021, which changed the Office of MN.IT Services to a formally recognized department in Minn. Stat. 15.01, and made a few other changes to its structure (see Laws of Minn. 2021, chap. 31, art. 2).

Commissioners: 

• Carolyn Parnell (2011-2014)
• Tom Baden (2015-February 2, 2018)
• Johanna Clyborne (February 2, 2018-January 7, 2019)
• Bill Poirier (acting commissioner; January 2019-April 2019)
• Tarek Tomes (April 2019- )