Technology

Why Cybersecurity Awareness Month should be every month

COMMENTARY | Cybercrime costs have surpassed $10 trillion globally, illustrating the relentless threat and why state CISOs say they want the spotlight on cybersecurity year-round.

Letter from Congress warns county against Chinese drone use

Arguing that the drones put privacy and national security at risk, a U.S. House committee is asking the country to stop buying them. The letter hints its efforts could expand to localities nationwide.

Computer programs monitor students’ every word in the name of safety

Companies tout security features; privacy advocates dislike constant surveillance.

What states learned from the CrowdStrike outage

Three months since a faulty update caused outages and disruptions worldwide, state CIOs are looking back and assessing how they did.

State CIOs take on bigger role in natural disasters

A recent survey of state tech leaders found that CIOs are increasingly an integral part of state emergency operations, tasked with making sure critical systems and communications remain available.

Move over! Two map apps to notify drivers when state police are stopped ahead

The Illinois State Police is using Waze and Google Maps to alert drivers in real time about roadside personnel in an effort to cut down on injuries.

Amid tight budgets and talent gaps, the job of state technology chief just keeps expanding

Many state chief information security officers say they don’t have a reliable budget, staff or expertise to adequately protect against cyberattacks, according to a new survey.

State IT innovations honored in annual awards

States’ efforts to improve the delivery of benefits, such as food stamps and Medicaid, strengthen cybersecurity, and enhance residents’ overall digital experiences were recognized by the association of state IT leaders.

To fight online misinformation, engage with the 'trolls,' city leaders say

City communications strategists say it is crucial to engage, and quickly, before false narratives take hold.

Breaking News

FBI raids government IT and cyber contractor Carahsoft

Company president says the agents were there "as part of an investigation into a company with which Carahsoft has done business in the past."

Meet the 2024 Rising Stars

This year's cohort of Rising Stars has been selected for their accomplishments and impact over the past year and for their leadership potential.

Some states want to make it easier to cancel subscriptions

Pushback from cable, streaming services has challenged their efforts.

As wildfires burn throughout the West, officials are turning to AI

In California, fire officials began using artificial intelligence last year to scan cameras for smoke.

Two years later, money from the CHIPS Act is moving

Now that more than half of the almost $53 billion federal investment has been spoken for, the real work has begun as state and local governments look to cash in. Here’s what experts say officials need to do.

Errors in Deloitte-run Medicaid systems can cost millions and take years To fix

Twenty-five states have awarded Deloitte contracts for eligibility systems totally at least $6 billion, giving the company a stronghold in a lucrative segment of the government benefits business.

Governments often struggle with massive new IT projects

Culture, bureaucracy and serving a broad patchwork of agencies can make a comprehensive technology update a challenge, experts say.

Can states’ social media laws stand up to scrutiny?

Several states have tried to regulate the space in a bid to protect young people from the worst of the platforms. But whether their plans are workable, and can withstand legal challenges, remains to be seen.

The right to repair electronics is now law in 3 states. Is Big Tech complying?

You're legally entitled to fix your own gadgets in California, Minnesota, and New York — but not all tech companies have gotten the memo.

Cars that talk: Feds announce plan to accelerate connected vehicle deployment

The U.S. Department of Transportation aims to have vehicle-to-everything tech deployed nationwide by 2036, and said it will offer grants and support to help states get there.

Crowdstrike debacle underlines single-point-of-failure risk

COMMENTARY | As our dependency on technology and energy increases, state and local leaders need to take a hard look at their disaster recovery and business plans.