Secretary Fontes Thanks JLBC for Approving IT Project; Reaffirms Ongoing Need for Cybersecurity
PHOENIX – Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes today thanked members of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) for approving funding to launch the FACTS 2.0 modernization project, a critical step toward improving Arizona's business-services systems and integration with the statewide Business One-Stop Portal.
The FACTS 2.0 Low-Code/No-Code Development and Business One-Stop Integration Project, jointly advanced by the Secretary of State's Office (SOS) and the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA), will replace a 20-year-old legacy application used to process notary, partnership, and UCC filings. Once implemented, the new platform will provide faster, more secure, and fully digital business services for Arizona entrepreneurs.
"Arizona's business community deserves 21st-century service," said Secretary Fontes. "This project will begin to replace outdated systems with modern, cloud-based tools that save time, reduce errors, and strengthen data security. I'm grateful to JLBC for recognizing that modernization is essential to efficient, responsive government."
Fontes emphasized, however, that the approval of this item alone does not resolve the SOS's broader cybersecurity and infrastructure vulnerabilities — vulnerabilities that were underscored by the June cyberattack on the Secretary of State's candidate portal. That attack, believed to be linked to a foreign adversary associated with Iran, was successfully contained, but it highlighted the increasing threats faced by public institutions and the urgent need for sustained cybersecurity investment.
"We've taken an important step forward today–but our work isn't done," Fontes added. "Modernizing one system doesn't protect the rest of our network. The June cyberattack was a warning shot that Arizona can't ignore. That's why our FY 2027 budget request includes expanded cybersecurity investments to safeguard election infrastructure and other mission-critical systems statewide. Arizona can't afford to wait until the next cyberattack to make those investments."
Fontes reiterated that the same principles guiding FACTS 2.0—cloud migration, system integration, and proactive risk mitigation—must be applied across all SOS technology assets.
"Every SOS IT system must meet modern standards of security, accessibility, and reliability," Fontes said. "I appreciate the partnership of our legislators and ADOA colleagues in advancing FACTS 2.0, and I look forward to continued collaboration to ensure Arizona's digital infrastructure is secure, resilient, and ready for the future."