November/December 2017
NEWS TO USE
State CIO Top Ten Policy and Technology Priorities for 2018

NASCIO conducts a survey of the state CIOs to identify and prioritize the top policy and technology issues facing state government. The CIOs' top ten priorities are identified and used as input to NASCIO's programs, planning for conference sessions, and publications.  Learn more.
Shrinking State Data Centers: A Playbook for Enterprise Data Center Consolidation
 
This is an update since NASCIO's last publication on data center consolidation in 2007. This version is a playbook of 10 plays for states who have yet to consolidate their data centers using lessons learned and advice from the trenches from states who have completed enterprise consolidation. Learn More.
Watch on Washington Top 5

  1. FirstNet  update Ohio and Vermont are the latest states to opt-in to FirstNet, bringing the total to 35 states and territories as of this writing. Colorado has selected Rivada Networks and Macquarie Infrastructure to build and maintain an alternative RAN if Governor Hickenlooper decides to opt-out. Note, the deadline to accept FirstNet's state plan or voice opt-out is December 28. 
  2. NTIA releases opt-out grant application The NTIA has released information on the application information necessary for opt-out states that seek grant funding from the agency to construct the state's RAN per their alternative plan (if approved by the FCC). The opt-out state must meet five (5) key statutory requirements related to ongoing interoperability, financial stability, technical ability, comparable timeline, cost effectiveness, and comparable security, coverage and quality of service to that of the NPSBN. Complete details on the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is here.      
  3. Fed agencies mostly stagnant in IT modernization On November 15, the Subcommittees of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform heard testimony from GAO on the latest FITARA scorecard which measures federal agencies in several IT-related areas: agency CIO authority enhancements, transparency and risk management, portfolio review, data center optimization initiative and software licensing. Since the last time agencies were graded (June 2017), three agencies improved, fifteen agencies have remained stagnant and six agencies have declined in their overall FITARA grades. 
  4. Capitol Hill discusses identity verification The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing, "Identity Verification in a Post-Breach World," on November 30 where witnesses discussed moving beyond knowledge-based authentication (KBA). Witnesses also discussed the lack of accountability after a breach, proliferation of online threats including IoT and moving beyond identity verification via common verifiers like social security numbers or passwords. 
  5. ICYMI NGA-NASCIO letter on fed reg harmonization On November 6, NGA and NASCIO jointly sent a letter to Office of Management and Budget director Mick Mulvaney seeking engagement from his office on harmonizing cumbersome federal cyber regulations. The letter is signed by Governor Dayton (D-Minn.) and Minnesota CIO Tom Baden and Governor Greitens (R-Mo.) and Missouri Acting CIO Rich Kleithermes. Governors Dayton and Greitens lead NGA's homeland security and public safety committee.
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Top Ten Trends notes
Eric Sweden, Program Director, Enterprise Architecture & Governance

CIOs are continually evaluating how best to apply limited resources in state government. Industry partners are continually evaluating the needs of government in order to deliver capabilities that meet those needs. In the end what we are all after are positive outcomes for the citizens of this great country.

One important metric we have used for many years is the annual  State CIO Top Ten Priorities . The Top Ten informs the association, state government and the marketplace regarding the most pressing priorities for state government CIOs.

Over the years we've observed the trends of these shifting priorities presented on the  Top Ten Strategies, Management Processes and Solutions . Some move up and down on the lists for strategy and technology in almost a sinusoidal wave pattern.

The most straight-line trend we've seen is  Security,  which has maintained a relentless #1 position for many years. Clearly, states continue to struggle in a never-ending cyber war that threatens our citizens and the government they put in place.

Cloud Services and  Consolidation/Optimization are two priorities that also maintain positions near the top and trade positioning over time between the #2 and the #3 priority. These are strongly related as they co-enable each other and also provide a foundation for the first priority -  Security .

Budget, Cost Control, Fiscal Management  is also always on the list, typically moving in the middle tier and touching every other priority. States have different approaches for funding using General Fund and/or charge-back models. But keeping costs down while delivering program functionality is a significant challenge for both state CIOs and budget officers.

A couple of priorities arrived for over the last three to four years. "Enterprise" visioning and governance have been sustaining and demonstrate state CIOs role promoting and fostering an enterprise perspective when managing issues and fully leveraging technology to deliver outcomes.  Agile arrived on the list and has sustained for the past three years, reflecting state CIOs taking action to reinvent the delivery process that provides frequent stage gate reviews and affords the opportunity to make course corrections early to ensure the right solutions are applied that are current and remain relevant. Testing happens early and frequently, avoiding large investments and long duration projects that bring significant risk.

Finally, a concept that has been in the purview of state CIOs for some years now, but now makes the list with significant energy behind it, is  Digital Government . A government that is always connected with its constituency, providing the best technology to assist citizens including artificial intelligence, digital assistants, chatbots and crowd sourcing.

Stay tuned to NASCIO as we pursue these and other priorities for state CIOs. Next time around, we'll look at the important trends reflected in the  Top Ten Technologies, Applications and Tools list.