Cybersecurity

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.

In 2025, state IT focused on resilience — including recovery from a significant cybersecurity incident — and technology modernization with the CORE.NV project, setting the stage for continued progress next year.

A budget request submitted by the state attorney general seeks $901,782 to do more to stop cryptocurrency scams. The funding would enable the office to hire additional attorneys, investigators and staff.

The 20th annual top 10 list of state CIO priorities from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers reflects a pivotal shift in how leaders are preparing for the next era of gov tech.

The need to be connected is driving IT work across the state, from progress on a broadband expansion milestone to an interoperable radio network to collaborating with agencies to support their service delivery.

How can we describe the past year in cybersecurity? No doubt, AI was front and center in so many conversations, and now there’s no going back. Here’s why.

The document emphasizes governance, risk assessment and safety principles to protect operational technology as AI adoption grows. Understanding security concerns during development is one recommendation.

The renewal of a state grant program for local public agencies focuses on cybersecurity and other areas that involve gov tech. Officials encourage governments to partner on projects that could receive funding.