State CIOs Focus on the Fundamentals

New Orleans, LA., Tuesday, October 1, 2024 —The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) released today The 2024 State CIO Survey: Building Blocks of the Next Generation CIOThe report includes responses from 49 state CIOs on nine topics.

“This year’s survey includes many topics that have been accelerated over the past few years,” said NASCIO Executive Director Doug Robinson. “But it is also clear that state CIOs are working on many bits it takes to secure a strong foundation.”

This year’s survey includes a dive into how states are using generative artificial intelligence, accelerating digital government services and evolving identity and access management. The report also includes information on service delivery and it seems that consolidation and centralization aren’t going anywhere soon with CIOs reporting that they are delivering services to agencies by consolidation of infrastructure, consolidation of services and centralization of information technology project management. Finally, as it seems technology is a part of every state initiative these days, the survey digs into the technology acquisition process and how states define technology procurement.

The complete report is available on NASCIO’s website www.nascio.org/resourcecenter.

Contact
Meredith Ward
Deputy Executive Director
National Association of State Chief Information Officers
859.514.9209
[email protected]

2024 Deloitte-NASCIO Survey Finds States Face Growing Cybersecurity Threats, Tight Budgets

Nearly three-quarters of state chief information security officers say the likelihood of AI-enabled threats is “high”

New Orleans, LA., September 30, 2024 — The 2024 edition of the biennial cybersecurity report from Deloitte and the National Association of Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) found 86% of state chief information security officers (CISOs) say their responsibilities are growing, yet more than one-third do not have a dedicated cybersecurity budget. Four of the 51 state CISOs surveyed said their state IT budgets allocate less than 1% for cybersecurity.

“The ability of government to deliver on its mission depends on data – and on the security of that data,” said Srini Subramanian, principal, Deloitte & Touche LLP and Deloitte’s Global Consulting Government and Public Services leader. “The attack surface is expanding as state leaders’ reliance on information becomes increasingly central to the operation of government itself, and CISOs have an increasingly challenging mission to make the technology infrastructure resilient against ever-increasing cyber threats.”

Despite the growing importance of cybersecurity, many state CISOs indicated resources aren’t keeping pace with the growing sophistication of threats. Federal agencies generally earmark more than 10% of their IT budgets for cybersecurity, yet many states have not dedicated resources at the same pace.

The 2024 biennial Deloitte-NASCIO report surveyed state CISOs from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) – and its potential benefits and risks – was top of mind for many state technology leaders. Nearly three-quarters of respondents (71%) believe the risk of AI-enabled threats is “high.” However, 41% lack confidence in their team’s ability to handle them. Legacy systems with outdated technology, particularly in public infrastructure such as transportation, water and power, are specific areas of concern.

While acknowledging the potential threat of AI, state CISOs are increasingly turning to AI and GenAI tools to shore up their cybersecurity capabilities. A total of 21 said they are already using GenAI to improve security operations, while another 22 plan to adopt GenAI within the next 12 months.

“The good news is many state CISOs have been able to increase employee headcounts, adding specialists to their teams who are focused on cybersecurity-related issues,” said Meredith Ward, deputy executive director at NASCIO and a co-author of the 2024 Deloitte-NASCIO report. “In 2020, 16% of CISOs had fewer than five employees dedicated to cybersecurity initiatives. Today, that percentage has dropped to just 4%. In addition to growing their teams, our research found these leaders are determined to find creative solutions to protect their organizations and the public.”

Nearly every state CISO reported they are involved with developing state strategy and security policy; only two did not.

The 2024 Deloitte-NASCIO Cybersecurity Study can be viewed in its entirety here.

Contact
Meredith Ward
Deputy Executive Director
National Association of State Chief Information Officers
859.514.9209
[email protected]

NASCIO and EY US Study Reveals Majority of States Lack Data Quality Programs to Support GenAI-Ready Data

Lexington, Kentucky, Tuesday, September 10, 2024 —State chief information officers (CIOs) and state chief digital officers (CDOs) recognize the importance of high data quality — especially as a critical determinant of successful artificial intelligence (AI) — but a majority have concerns about data quality, according to a new report published by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) and Ernst & Young LLP (EY US). The report, Is Your State Data Quality Ready for GenAI?, surveyed CIOs and CDOs from 46 states, revealing that the biggest barriers cited to maintaining high quality data are budget constraints, skill shortages, organizational awareness and competing priorities.

Data collected in the survey reveals the following.

  • Key finding: 95% of respondents think increased adoption of AI and generative AI (GenAI) is impacting data management. And while the majority of respondents (89%) consider data quality to be important, less than a quarter (22%) have a dedicated data quality program.
  • Reactive data quality management: Nearly three-quarters of respondents (72%) consider their approach as “reactive” or merely “aware,” which reflects the tendency to view data quality as a technology agency’s responsibility rather than a cross-departmental concern.
  • Importance/budget disconnect: Most respondents (72%) report low to no alignment of funds budgeted toward data quality initiatives, with a majority of respondents (83%) reporting minimum budgetary alignment and 15% reporting no budgetary alignment.
  • Lack of data leaders: Less than half of respondents (41%) have a dedicated data management lead/officer, revealing a talent gap in critical data roles to effectively govern data.

“This report demonstrates that there is a clear imperative for state leaders to implement data quality programs on the path to successful AI integration,” said Doug Robinson, NASCIO Executive Director. “Creating a data-centric culture within state CIO offices will help leaders identify patterns that will drive innovation and improve the quality of citizen services.”

Chris Estes, EY US State & Local Technology Leader and former CIO for the State of North Carolina, said, “AI technology is set to transform the way state agencies operate and innovate, but success is highly dependent on the quality of the data. Prioritizing data quality management and funding is critical to realize the full value of state government AI and technology modernization efforts.”

Finally, the publication includes recommendations for state CIOs and CDOs around managing data quality, including providing data literacy training to the government workforce and implementing formal data governance policies.

The full report can be found on NASCIO’s website: NASCIO.org/resource-center.

Contact
Meredith Ward
Deputy Executive Director
National Association of State Chief Information Officers
859.514.9209
[email protected]

NASCIO Announces Finalists for NASCIO 2024 State IT Recognition Awards

Lexington, Kentucky, Tuesday, September 10, 2024 —The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has announced finalists for the NASCIO 2024 State IT Recognition Awards. This year over 120 submissions were received from NASCIO member states and territories and over 55 NASCIO members served as volunteer judges. 

The award entries showcase the use of information technology to address critical business problems, more easily connect citizens to their government, improve business processes and create new opportunities that improve the lives of citizens. The recipients will be announced at the awards and recognition dinner at the NASCIO 2024 Annual Conference.  

 

Award finalists for the 2024 State IT Recognition Awards are: 

Business Process Innovations 

State of Hawai’i: AI-Powered Statewide Branch Services Desk 

State of Ohio: Ex Parte Medicaid Renewals: Innovation in a Loop 

State of Tennessee: Automating our Way to the Top: The Evolution of Tennessee’s Business Process Automation Program  

 

Cross-Boundary Collaboration & Partnerships 

State of Hawai’i: Hawaii’s Career Acceleration Navigator 

State of Iowa: Setoff Success: Reforming State Finances 

State of Ohio: Find What You Need in a SNAP! Redesigned Notices Created by and for Ohioans 

State of Tennessee: Tennessee’s State-Local Cybersecurity Superheroes: a Partnership that’s Saving the Day, One NCSR Assessment at a Time 

 

Cybersecurity 

State of Illinois: When the Cicadas Fade, Security Concerns Still Remain 

State of Minnesota: Turning Risk into Reward with Cyber Risk Quantification 

State of Ohio: Teaching Old Dogs a New Trick for Digital Identity Verification 

North Carolina: Central Funding for Cybersecurity Tools to Ensure Holistic Visibility and Response  

 

Data Management, Analytics & Visualization 

State of Georgia: Dashboards Show Highs, Lows of Healthcare Workforce 

State of Ohio: Ohio’s Nursing Home Quality Navigator 

State of Minnesota: Minnesota IT Services Data-Driven Solutions: Improving Access to Food for Minnesota’s Most Vulnerable Children  

 

Digital Services: Government to Business 

State of California: CalGenetic Portal—GDSP Program Portal for Clinician Licensing and Prenatal Orders and Results  

State of Minnesota: Filling the Childcare Gap: Licensing Innovation in Minnesota  

State of North Carolina: Rapid Modernization of the Unemployment Insurance Tax System

 

Digital Services: Government to Citizen  

State of Colorado: Supporting FAMLI(es) and Empowering Lives 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Commonwealth Digital Roadmap 

State of Tennessee: Simple, Stable and Scalable: The Evolution of Tennessee’s Unemployment Insurance Benefits System 

 

Emerging & Innovative Technologies  

State of Hawai’i: Geospatial Decision Support System 

State of Tennessee: Elevating TennCare: a Dynamic Leap into Efficiency through Cloud Modernization 

State of Wisconsin: A View from the Cloud 

 

Enterprise IT Management Initiatives 

State of Michigan: Building a World Class IT Call Center 

State of Tennessee: Tenncare Enterprise Tools: From Everything Everywhere to All-in-One Place  

State of Washington: Transforming Transportation: Excellence in Data Center Modernization  

 

Information Communications Technology (ICT) Innovations  

State of Georgia: Georgia’s Orchard Web Design System: Groomed for Good Harvest 

State of Michigan: Michigan Addresses Confidentiality Program 

State of North Carolina: NC OneMap: A Unified Data Platform Closing the Digital Divide in North Carolina  

 

State CIO Office Special Recognition 

State of Illinois: Ctrl+Alt+Elite | IT Careers Start @ DoIT 

State of Michigan: Revolutionizing Smart Benefit Systems 

State of Missouri: Digital Transformation is a Journey: Building Missouri’s Digital State 

 

To review these and other submissions, please visit NASCIO’s Awards Library: www.NASCIO.org/awards 

Contact
Meredith Ward
Deputy Executive Director
National Association of State Chief Information Officers
859.514.9209
[email protected]

NASCIO Releases Revolutionizing Assistance: How States Can Improve Generative AI’s Role in Disability Empowerment

LEXINGTON, Ky., Tuesday, July 9, 2024 — Today, the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) released Revolutionizing Assistance: How States Can Improve Generative AI’s Role in Disability Empowerment. The emergence of GenAI has created a unique opportunity for state technology leaders to improve accessibility for disabled people in the workforce and their state populations. This publication outlines current use cases for increasing accessibility through GenAI, the limitations of GenAI in these situations and provides key recommendations to maximize the use of GenAI as an innovative tool in expanding access to the world for everyone.

Contact
Meredith Ward
Deputy Executive Director
National Association of State Chief Information Officers
859.514.9209
[email protected]

NASCIO Members Give Back During NASCIO 2024 Midyear Conference

LEXINGTON, Ky., Wednesday, 15, 2024 — The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) donated over $35,700 to Byte BackCity Gate and Stem for Her as part of the association’s Give Back program. As NASCIO says goodbye to National Harbor (the location of its Midyear conference for many years), the Give Back program supported the organizations NASCIO’s members have gotten to know since 2019. NASCIO’s 2025 and 2026 Midyear Conferences will be held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Donations were collected during the NASCIO 2024 Midyear Conference and NASCIO members donated through individual contributions. NASCIO corporate members Conduent, Esri, Everlaw, Pluralsight, SAIC and Veracode sponsored this year’s Give Back program and contributed to the donation total.

Contact
Meredith Ward
Deputy Executive Director
National Association of State Chief Information Officers
859.514.9209
[email protected]

NASCIO Technology Champion Award Honors Oklahoma’s Justin Devero

Lexington, Ky, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 — The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has awarded Oklahoma web modernization manger, Justin Devero, with the association’s 2024 Technology Champion Award. In the award nomination, Justin was described as a “visionary leader whose pioneering spirit has been a catalyst for the state’s digital transformation journey.” Justin was nominated by David Stroth, vice president, US State & Local Government Sales, Adobe.

Under Justin’s guidance, the state launched its redesigned website, Oklahoma.gov, creating a one-stop portal for citizens to access all state government services, from essential needs such as housing and financial assistance, to more mundane tasks like applying for a digital driver’s license or getting a fishing permit. This integrated, unified web platform empowers the state to deliver the personalized and consistent citizen-centric digital experiences that residents deserve and have come to expect in today’s digital age.

Oklahoma Chief Information Officer Joe McIntosh said, “Justin Devero has been instrumental in ensuring that Oklahoma’s citizens have quick and efficient access to our digital services. His commitment to delivering trusted and streamlined services has been pivotal in transforming how the state interacts with its citizens. I am immensely proud of Justin and his team’s efforts in revolutionizing our digital landscape and setting new benchmarks for public service in the technology realm.”

Justin led the charge in migrating over 90 state agency websites and 30,000 webpages into the Oklahoma.gov platform, providing centralized web content management across desktop and mobile devices. As described in his nomination, “As states strive to keep up with today’s digital-first landscape, Justin’s efforts serve as a prime example that a successful approach is not built bureaucratically, but rather with citizen experience at the core.”

NASCIO created the Technology Champion Award in 2003 to recognize outstanding individual contributions to the field of information technology in the public sector. Recipients further NASCIO’s vision of a government in which the public is fully served through the efficient and effective use of technology policy.

Learn more about the NASCIO Technology Champion award and prior recipients at www.nascio.org/awards.

Contact
Meredith Ward
Deputy Executive Director
National Association of State Chief Information Officers
859.514.9209
[email protected]

NASCIO Releases New Survey on the State Chief Privacy Officer Role

LEXINGTON, Ky., Thursday, March 21, 2024 — The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) today released The Shifting Privacy Paradigm: State Chief Privacy Officers’ Evolving Roles and Persistent Realities. As the landscape of privacy regulations continues to evolve, the role of the state chief privacy officer (CPO) becomes increasingly vital in safeguarding citizens’ data privacy. This survey is an update from NASCIO’s last CPO survey published in 2022.

“As states grapple with the complexities of privacy governance, state CPOs play a pivotal role in safeguarding citizens’ privacy rights and fostering trust in government operations,” said Amy Glasscock, program director, innovation and emerging issues.

The survey reveals a movement in the direction of increased authority and establishment of the role in state government. With privacy emerging as a critical policy priority, spurred by the absence of comprehensive federal legislation, an increasing number of states are taking matters into their own hands, enacting privacy laws and officially appointing CPOs to oversee their implementation and develop privacy programs.

Key findings of the survey include:

  •  The prevalence of the title “chief privacy officer” has surged to 88%, indicating the growing recognition and institutionalization of the role within state governments.
  • State CPOs are increasingly reporting to administrative officials rather than CIOs or CISOs, reflecting a broader understanding of privacy beyond technology-centric domains.
  • Despite the prioritization of privacy, only 24% of respondents reported having an established privacy program, highlighting ongoing challenges in program development and implementation.
  • A lack of dedicated funding and authority remain significant hurdles, with only a fraction of CPOs having a defined budget for privacy initiatives and enforcement powers.
  • Top challenges identified by CPOs include lack of authority, funding, and qualified staff.

The findings of the survey underscore the urgent need for states to prioritize privacy governance, allocate dedicated funding, and empower CPOs with the authority needed to enforce privacy policies effectively. By heeding these recommendations, states can navigate the evolving privacy landscape and uphold the fundamental right to privacy for all citizens.

Contact
Meredith Ward
Deputy Executive Director
National Association of State Chief Information Officers
859.514.9209
[email protected]

NASCIO Report Highlights Vital Role of Data Literacy in State Government Decision-Making

Contact
Meredith Ward
Deputy Executive Director
National Association of State Chief Information Officers
859.514.9209
[email protected]

NASCIO Announces 2024 Federal Advocacy Priorities, Champions AI in State-led Responsible Governance

 

Contact
Meredith Ward
Deputy Executive Director
National Association of State Chief Information Officers
859.514.9209
[email protected]