Timur Medzhitov, Directum: It is extremely important that the legislation kept up with progressive technologies

Timur Medzhitov:The Digital Economy program is the first system view of the state on this subject. Already existence of the program — an important milestone for the state and the next step on the way to more modern and convenient tenor of life of citizens. Today two versions of the program are widely discussed. The first version, performed by the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation, looked as good technical specifications — digits and time frames are specified, we see at what result it is necessary to aim. On it it is possible to formulate separate comments. The second version, in the form of the Order of the Government of the Russian Federation, became more indistinct and the general, even some absolutely concrete concepts as, for example, "blockchain", are replaced with more abstract "systems of the distributed register" and "a unified digital medium of trust". Also from it the sections "Digital health care" and "The smart city" drawing attention of the population were gone.

It is necessary to understand that transition to "digital economy" is a global project, and it concerns different aspects of life therefore it is necessary to expect that at a stage of the embodiment there will be objective difficulties. Therefore the more accurate plans are designated, the it is simpler to control them and to understand to what we go. It would be desirable that the first version of the program was used by preparation of detailed road maps as it has detailing on the current questions, the concerning electronic archives, public services, interdepartmental interaction and EDMS.

For accomplishment of the Program adopted by the government extremely important that the legislation kept up with progressive technologies. It is expected that the first measures for regulation of the legislation will be defined already in the nearest future — in the fourth quarter 2017.

• Important point which is reflected in the Program and which is in every possible way supported by our company — increase in digital literacy of the population and input of certification standards. First of all, officials should seize "digital skills". We will not be able to achieve real progress if departments do not trust electronic documents and to use them. It is necessary to state in regulating documents in black and white "the official is obliged to sign documents in electronic form".
• The adopted program provides creation of federal competence centers in the different directions — and it is one more step for which we wait.
• As the developer of cloud solutions Directum company will monitor development of this direction. According to the Program, information systems of the state will be transferred to clouds, and, respectively, serious development of DPCs in Russia is provided. It is a certain call — competences and serious measures for security as it is about digital assets and personal data of all state are necessary. Also regarding cloud solutions serious interest from our party is attracted by the regulatory base and culture which will allow to go to clouds not only authorities, but also the organizations with state participation and to large business. It will allow to pass more easily to cloud solutions in all branches of the economy.

Minuses of the adopted Program — lack of the explicit section about digital finance, digital health care and the current tools — a blockchain, cryptocurrencies which already have the impact. There are no sections about Internet trade though it is the considerable and already working part of digital economy influencing ways of households too.

Timur Medzhitov:If we consider a situation only on the scale of the Russian Federation, then increase in number of specialists twice, of course, will be significant. But if to speak about break not at the level of Russia, and at the level of the world, then it is insignificant a little. It is enough to study dynamics of the world market of work in IT in recent years.

In July, 2013 Evans Data Corporation published data according to which all in 2017 in the world there will be 18.2 million software developers, and in 2019 — already 26.4 million, i.e. is 45% more. On the middle of 2013 of the USA were in the lead in the world by the number of programmers, in their this country was about 3.6 million, at the same time, in their India there were 2.75 million. In 2018 in India there will be 5.2 million developers, growth will be about 90%, in comparison with 4.5 million in the USA (height about 25% for the same period).

In 2016 Evans Data Corp. estimated number of developers in the world at the level of 21 million that already then exceeded forecasts of researchers. Today the USA still saves leadership in the number of programmers, and China takes the third place after India. At such dynamics of height of 1 million Russian developers will make only a small share from world IT community. Let's add to it the poor performance of work in our country, considerable differences from the USA in a business climate status (existence of venture funds, support of startups, etc.). As a result many IT companies are forced to compete in the domestic market among themselves and are not ready to reach foreign level.

I think what the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications in the forecasts aims to look at a situation it is realistic. 1 million developers are minimum necessary quantity to start serious changes.

Timur Medzhitov:We feel the shortage of specialists, as well as other market participants. We work both with universities, and with schools: we hold events to popularize robotics, engineering and IT specialties among school students. But, if to return to the previous question, it is all the same not enough as the explosive growth of specialists in labor market is not expected.

Restrictions concern not only quantities, but also level of training. Educational standards in IT require completion, and universities are not always ready to interact with potential employers densely. As a result the IT companies should make even more efforts for influence on quality of training — not simply to prepare relevant material for teaching specialty, but also to conduct negotiations with educational institutions. As a result most of the young specialists only graduating the universities owing to the competences are not ready to a full-fledged work in the companies yet, it is necessary to train them in addition.

In addition, the IT level in general grows in Russia. Therefore, also requirements of large software developers grow. If 5 years ago the student of profile high school specialty was quite competitive candidate for work, then today employers take just the same student with training perspective not less than two years.

Timur Medzhitov:First of all, it would be desirable to note the project of development and deployment of mobile application of the Directum system for the top officials of the subject of the Russian Federation — the Vologda region who became the winner of annual tender of the Directum Awards projects. In 2016 the Directum Solo application was implemented at the governor of the Vologda region and his deputies and also a part of heads of structural divisions and bodies of the executive government. Implementation was productive in many respects thanks to support and the involvement of heads of authority: as a result for December, 2016 from 1931 documents which came to consideration to the Governor of the region, 1438 it was considered and approved by means of mobile application that made 74%. Terms of signing of documents were reduced. If earlier the head was in a business trip and had no opportunity to sign documents within several days, then he signs documents from any place in the world with implementation of mobile application.

One more project — on implementation of RSMEV and SIR based on Directum in the Government of the Ryazan region — was also nominated for Directum Awards. Feature of implementation was the fact that the project team not only set, but also provided a possibility of independent development of the regional portal of state services (RPGU) by the customer. Directum developers designed templates which allowed to add independently further information on public services on the portal. The staff of the government and the subordinated organizations replicated the solution. Solutions based on Directum are set in all public authorities and local government of the Ryazan region.

Timur Medzhitov:The share of projects in a public sector in the general structure of revenue remains rather stable – we estimate it at the level of 20%.

Timur Medzhitov:Plans for implementation of domestic software and Open Source in authorities really influence requests of clients. The need for solutions with support of Open Source became above, customers are interested in implementation of these plans. First of all, they are interested in operating systems on client places and office suites. Their replacement brings the most significant effect thanks to economy on the support traditionally expensive for the western proprietary software and also thanks to mass character — such jobs the majority. The next step is replacement of DBMS which cost of maintenance is also high.

But it is more important that at customers the culture of formation of the state order is developed. First, the market of EDMS and related services was stabilized in terms of requirements. Secondly, specialists in authorities become more and more competent and accurately formulate the requirements. Ordering projects, customers understand what functionality is wanted to be seen in a system. Plus to it, they look at EDMS with planning horizon not 1 year, but 3-5 years. For a long-term outlook server capacities are selected, the potential scalability, fault tolerance, training methods, change management is put.

Also scales changed: today it is interesting to very few people to implement a system pointwise, for example, only in service of office-work. State customers are interested in automation of work of each employee. Therefore, the quantity of jobs increased, projects cover a set of departments and subordinated organizations at once.

Timur Medzhitov:Financing remains the main problem now. In many regions sequestering of budgets is carried out, but at the same time the volume of already implemented systems increased, therefore, also the cost of their operation increased. In such situation the budget share on development becomes minimum, it is necessary to expose priorities strictly.

One more problem is that on some topical issues the federal regulatory base is not acquired yet. In particular, it concerns a subject of archives of long storage (over 10 years). It is necessary to provide document storage in electronic form with the EDS, but corresponding federal the practician does not exist yet. There are only methodical recommendations developed in 2013 and already partially outdated. Subjects try to close this space the regional regulatory base, organizational solutions, but there is still not enough activity from federal bodies.

Development SIEI is also still relevant, regional portals of state services, the departmental systems — narrow tasks are automated with better service, deeper detailing and control.

Timur Medzhitov:As the citizen I use a uniform personal account, the uniform portal of state services, services of FTS. Not absolutely conveniently for the fact that actually state services need to be received not through EPGU now, and through different services (a personal account of tax administration, pension fund, services of Rosreestr). Information is in the different systems, it is necessary to integrate them. In a personal account the convenience of the statuses leaves much to be desired — the scheme of information representation is thought not out. The citizen cannot distinguish in the list the information notification from the message requiring some actions. If to take specific popular service in payment of penalties of traffic police, then in EPGU there is no opportunity to look at neither the detailed description, nor photos from the place of offense to be convinced that it is your car. This information comes to the citizen only Russian Post or is browsed via the website of GAI.

Timur Medzhitov:As federal CIO act, first, the Russian Government's Department of Information Technology and Communications, secondly, the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation now. Another thing is that a number of functions remains outside their powers. In particular, at federal authorities as were, indeed the IT budgets, and any attempts on their centralization at first sight are not made. With same difficulties in building of uniform IT infrastructure are connected: each department builds the DPCs (for example, FTS, Rosreestr) though at mass state procurement it would be possible to organize the uniform center, and it would be cheaper and more effective. Federal CIO could provide infrastructure as service for all other organizations within a state task. There is no uniform technical support of the state services also — such services are duplicated in each department. In terms of cost reduction, increase in controllability, expense control, it would also be possible to integrate them. The absence of CIO caused already mentioned situation with several personal accounts on the different websites.

One more subject outside activity of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications — the IT industry could become the pioneer regarding creation of the general service centers (GSC) for state structures. Thus it would be possible to centralize state procurements, services of personnel management, service of control of transport. For example, some departments purchase cars in property, others – rent. There could be a uniform service which would buy the necessary number of transport and handed over it according to requests.

There is not enough activity and regarding development of education at schools and universities on the specialties connected with IT. Now more the community tries to influence the educational standard. The set of the state projects on informatization of different spheres starts, but they are not connected with training of specialists in any way. For example, during project implementation on IT in health care training of IT specialists with a bias in data domain was not organized. Today similar deficit of the IT personnel is both in medicine, and in finance, and in project management.