State CIOs Transition from Equipment Managers to Collaborators and Visionaries in Digital Government
State chief information officers (CIOs) are redefining their roles as collaborators and visionaries in the realm of digital government, according to a recent survey conducted by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO). In the survey, 96% of the CIOs expressed their expectation to serve as strategic leaders, setting directions and providing an enterprise vision for government agencies.
The prevailing trend indicates that CIOs will spend more time collaborating with agencies, with the central IT office acting as a broker of services. The shift is driven by the increasing demand for digital services, which the surveyed CIOs ranked as the biggest factor influencing their changing role. Michigan CIO Laura Clark emphasized the importance of the CIO’s role as a visionary in promoting digital government services across departments.
Previously, CIOs focused primarily on providing and managing hardware, software, and other technological infrastructure. However, with the advancement of technology, these responsibilities have become less significant, and CIOs are now expected to partner with service providers and facilitate connections with agencies, rather than building their own infrastructure.
In addition to evolving their roles as collaborators, state CIOs also addressed the top priorities of their offices. Cybersecurity emerged as a major concern, with CIOs taking the lead in developing robust cybersecurity strategies to qualify for federal cyber grants. Nearly half of the surveyed CIOs reported receiving supplemental state funding specifically for cybersecurity. However, sustaining funding over multiple years is essential to effectively addressing cybersecurity challenges, as noted by Wisconsin CIO Trina Zanow.
To ensure a standardized approach to cybersecurity across all state governments, Rhode Island CIO Brian Tardiff advocated for the adoption of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Cybersecurity Framework. Meanwhile, Arkansas Secretary of IT Jonathan Askins urged states to focus less on external threats and instead develop comprehensive defense postures.
Attracting and retaining a skilled workforce remains a significant challenge for CIOs, particularly in the cybersecurity and broader technology sectors. To overcome this, 90% of the surveyed CIOs revealed that they offer remote or hybrid work arrangements to cybersecurity employees, a substantial increase compared to previous statistics.
While concerns about job displacement due to automation exist, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning present an opportunity to fill vacancies in state governments. According to the survey, over half of the respondents believed that generative AI would have the most impact in the next three to five years.
Modernizing legacy technology also remains a top priority for state CIOs, with many states investing in technology modernization funds to facilitate this process. These funds help navigate the challenging fiscal climate and enable CIOs to receive supplemental funding for capital investments and technology upgrades.
Overall, state CIOs are adapting their roles to become effective collaborators and visionaries in the realm of digital government. By prioritizing strategic direction, fostering collaboration with agencies, and addressing pressing issues such as cybersecurity and technology modernization, CIOs are poised to lead their states into a more advanced and efficient era of digital governance.
