https://statetechmagazine.com/ en https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/09/how-state-and-local-governments-are-using-servicenow-modernize-citizen-services-and-operations At the Tennessee Department of Human Services, modernization started with a simple realization: Residents seeking help from the state often faced a maze of disconnected systems, phone numbers and processes. A Tennessean applying for benefits might also need childcare assistance, document verification or help scheduling an interview. But historically, each interaction was tied to a different division and a different technology platform, says Pamela Fusting, director of operations for customer experience at TDHS. “We had a vision that was pretty simple,” Fusting says. “We just needed to… Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:17:20 -0400 Jessica Balen https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/09/how-state-and-local-governments-are-using-servicenow-modernize-citizen-services-and-operations https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/09/how-state-and-local-governments-can-secure-iot-devices State and local governments often buy connected Internet of Things (IoT) devices to solve immediate operational problems, then deal with security after the equipment is already on the network. That sequence creates trouble. Water and wastewater systems use connected equipment for monitoring and control. Transportation agencies deploy traffic sensors, cameras and smart crosswalks. Police departments rely on body cameras and connected license plate readers. Each IoT device must be identified, updated and monitored, but who holds the responsibility for that work is not always clear. The better… Mon, 14 Sep 2026 14:09:07 -0400 Eric Marchewitz https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/09/how-state-and-local-governments-can-secure-iot-devices https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/09/how-real-time-crime-centers-help-police-respond-faster-and-solve-more-cases Like many law enforcement organizations, the Norfolk (Va.) Police Department faced a staffing shortage in the wake of the COVID pandemic. At one point, the NPD was short about one-third of its typical staff count. This led department leadership to seek a technology solution to help increase the overall efficiency of its officers. The solution started with the implementation of 172 Flock license plate reader (LPR) cameras to assist with an uptick in stolen cars, which in turn were being used to commit violent crimes. The success of the Flock cameras led to a wider technology deployment to… Thu, 10 Sep 2026 12:32:13 -0400 Alexander Slagg https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/09/how-real-time-crime-centers-help-police-respond-faster-and-solve-more-cases https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/09/how-state-and-local-agencies-can-prepare-shifting-federal-technology-funding State and local governments should not wait for a grant notice to start planning the project they want it to fund. Federal technology dollars are still available, but the timing and priorities have become harder to predict. Grant windows may open later than agencies expect, remain open for only a few weeks or focus on a narrower set of needs. At the same time, some of the broad federal funding that supported modernization over the past several years is reaching the end of its cycle. For IT leaders, that puts a premium on preparation. Click the banner below to prioritize threat mitigation in… Mon, 14 Sep 2026 11:35:40 -0400 Curtiss Strietelmeier https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/09/how-state-and-local-agencies-can-prepare-shifting-federal-technology-funding https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/09/state-agencies-seek-streamlined-actionable-view-risk After a hacker attempted to compromise the Mississippi State Department of Health’s executive business email system in 2024, the agency decided to incorporate CDW’s Incident Response Services. “That was a big driver for our wanting to have a managed response capability,” says IT Security Officer Jarad Stout. “One of the things I really liked about the incident response package was I could turn remaining contract hours into training and assessments for my team and organization. We just did a tabletop exercise in May.” The public health agency — which performs services ranging from physical… Tue, 08 Sep 2026 10:12:16 -0400 Erin Brereton https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/09/state-agencies-seek-streamlined-actionable-view-risk https://statetechmagazine.com/media/video/how-tennessee-uses-edge-technology-bring-driver-services-closer-citizens Tennessee uses cellular-connected self-service kiosks to reduce DMV wait times and make driver services available in convenient locations across the state. Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:31:41 -0400 https://statetechmagazine.com/media/video/how-tennessee-uses-edge-technology-bring-driver-services-closer-citizens https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/09/government-cisos-sound-alarm-growing-security-challenges In April 2026, NASCIO and Deloitte published their biennial cybersecurity survey. The study stuck with me — and not in a good way. Only 22% of CISOs are extremely or very confident in their ability to secure public data, down significantly from 48% just four years ago. At the same time, 94% of CISOs are actively involved in developing generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) security policies. This is “more duties as assigned” at a moment when confidence to perform the core function of the job is in decline. CIOs, to whom CISOs often report, are under similar pressure. CIOs are asked to… Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:44:05 -0400 Drenan Dudley https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/09/government-cisos-sound-alarm-growing-security-challenges https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/09/how-kansas-used-ai-cloud-and-data-modernize-constituent-services Modernizing legacy technology is rarely just an IT project. For government agencies, it’s an opportunity to rethink how they serve residents while building systems that can adapt to changing expectations for years to come. Many state and local governments still rely on decades-old applications that require manual work-arounds, limit online services and frustrate both employees and constituents. Replacing those systems isn’t easy, but doing so can dramatically improve service delivery when agencies focus on outcomes rather than technology alone. That was the message from Kansas Secretary of… Tue, 01 Sep 2026 17:50:36 -0400 Jessica Balen https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/09/how-kansas-used-ai-cloud-and-data-modernize-constituent-services https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/08/why-government-service-desks-are-ready-refresh State and local governments are starting to reconsider what their service desks can do. For years, the help desk was treated mainly as a back-office IT function: Take the call, open the ticket, fix the problem and move on. That traditional model still exists, but new service management platforms, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) are giving agencies ways to handle requests faster and expand service beyond traditional IT support. The shift matters because many government service desks have been held back by budget limits, old technology and procurement rules that make change… Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:51:24 -0400 Steven Horvath https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/08/why-government-service-desks-are-ready-refresh https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/08/wyoming-ciso-uses-ai-speed-cyber-defense Wyoming has replaced legacy anti-virus technology with an artificial intelligence-powered detection platform that can identify malicious behavior before a payload executes, quarantine affected systems and alert security staff. The technology protects state government as well as many local governments and organizations in Wyoming, state CISO Miguel Penaranda said during the AI Week 2026 State and Local session “Using AI for Cybersecurity and Threat Defense.” The state also uses AI to identify anomalous activity and connect security data across systems. “Machine versus machine: That is how we… Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:25:23 -0400 Jessica Balen https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2026/08/wyoming-ciso-uses-ai-speed-cyber-defense