State Government

The data breach last year by an outside entity resulted in the accessing of files that included Social Security numbers. Separately, hackers obtained the public assistance account information of more than 1 million people.

Forty-eight states took part in a review, but only 22 reached or surpassed recommended minimum system security levels. Results for local governments showed they, too, have room for improvement.

As the frequency of climate-related natural disasters increases, CIOs are uniquely positioned to build resiliency within state government and across internal agencies.

This year, local and state governments increased access to digital services for people with disabilities, in part due to a new ruling from the DOJ.

The state recently launched BEACON, driven by artificial intelligence and capable of transforming written emergency updates into real-time, multilingual audio message broadcasts on multiple platforms.

The state’s chief information officer will serve through Dec. 31, the state said in announcing her retirement. Gov. Andy Beshear picked her to lead the Commonwealth Office of Technology at the start of his first term.

After more than four years in his position as state CIO, Tracy Barnes is preparing for his January departure, when a new governor will take the reins from Gov. Eric Holcomb. Barnes has been with the state nearly a decade.

A massive car-charging plaza is being developed in California, while Colorado is moving forward with a high-speed charging network. And the electric vehicle industry is gravitating toward a single charging standard.

The company and the Ohio governor’s office announced the plan, which will enable Amazon to enlarge its data centers outside of central Ohio to new sites around the state. Locations of new data centers have not been finalized.

The Alaska Department of Revenue will work with Saige Consulting to modernize the Dividend Application Information System, by which qualifying residents receive their annual stipend. The new solution is expected in 2026.

State and local agencies have until Dec. 31 to commit federal funds they received through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund as part of the response to the pandemic. Anything not obligated must be returned.

Elevated to lead state technology in October 2018, Dedmon is a nearly 20-year state staffer and former deputy CIO. Her recent work has included guiding a refresh of the unemployment insurance system.

Artificial intelligence training should be mandatory for state employees to better prepare California for the anticipated growth of the new technology, a new report has recommended.

John Toney, the state’s chief information security officer, has been appointed a visiting fellow by the National Security Institute. Through this position, he will learn from cyber execs, building his knowledge to better serve Vermonters.

The state’s unemployment office reports significant benefits from the new technology, which officials said could help government agencies in and outside the state avoid long-term contracts with vendors.

An expert offers insights on how government agencies, frequent targets online, can safeguard critical infrastructure and future-proof their cybersecurity. Also under consideration: artificial intelligence’s dual role in security.

The environmental costs of using artificial intelligence tools is an area of growing concern for government technology officials. Transparency from vendors can shed light on their energy and water usage.

The State Transportation Board has picked a private-sector collaborator to handle maintenance, operations and commercialization as it builds out 1,400 miles of high-speed Internet infrastructure on all Georgia interstates.