Cybersecurity

CIO Shawnzia Thomas decodes why "cyber discipline" drives AI, modernization, and trust in Georgia’s 2026 tech agenda, and how cyber resilience is achievable through digital literacy and upskilling.

Officials from the state Department of Accounting and General Services warned residents that bad actors are “creating deceptive web addresses” to trick them into releasing personal information.

As a Missouri website that serves more than 50,000 state employees remains shut down after suspicious activity, it appears that quick work by fraud protection systems may have blocked unauthorized transactions.

Over the course of three months in 2025, hackers exploited vulnerabilities in Oracle E-Business Suite to exfiltrate Social Security numbers, birth dates and bank information for millions of students and staff.

IT infrastructure resilience, like modernization and citizen engagement, is an ongoing endeavor for officials in South Dakota, according to state CIO Mark Wixon — and one that intersects much other technology work.

State committees have, in the last year, examined topics ranging from agricultural security to cybersecurity. The annual threat assessment is required to precede the governor’s State of the State address.

The website, which lets state workers report time off and manage health savings, deferred compensation, and related accounts, has been shut down since Dec. 23 after being alerted to “suspicious activity.”

With AI taking the top spot for 2026 government CIO priorities, what are the next-level questions that leaders must focus on regarding AI projects and trends in the new year?  

Rex Menold is Michigan's new chief security officer for the state, which has recently seen several IT leadership changes and is seeking its next chief technology officer.

State leaders prioritized AI advancement in 2025; CIO Alberto Gonzalez said it will help support being efficient and improved service delivery for residents. Onboarding staff has been greatly quickened.

What cyber trends and predictions are coming for 2026? Here’s your annual security industry prediction report roundup for the new year, highlighting insights from the top vendors, publications and thought leaders.

The myColorado app now lets ID verifiers like government agencies or businesses scan a QR code on a user’s digital ID to quickly determine its validity. Some 1.8 million of the state’s residents use the app.

Eric Swanson, who leads the Michigan Center for Shared Solutions, will concurrently serve as the state’s acting chief information officer, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced Friday. Clark has been state CIO since 2021.

The local government was among many nationwide that were impacted by a cyber attack on the CodeRED platform. Its owner has transferred the county and other subscribers to a new system.

A break in service Thursday morning, which has been attributed to a domain name system service degradation, affected all state agencies. Its precise impact is unclear; however, an analysis is ongoing.

A school district in Pennsylvania canceled classes Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week while it investigates and isolates a ransomware virus, which did not appear to have come from a local source.

Officials are prepping for long-term technology needs, state CIO Matthew McCarville said, with efforts including a statewide IT apprenticeship program and a strong foundation in cybersecurity.

Minersville School District closed some schools for a couple days this week after discovering attempts to install malware on some of its systems. Officials are still investigating whether data was compromised.