State and local government agencies are stepping up their IT modernization efforts in order to streamline operations, cut costs and make critical services and programs accessible to their constituents. But there is still much work to be done.
Only 13 percent of state and local agencies have made substantial investments in modernizing operations, according to a new survey from the Center for Digital Government (CDG). However, 56 percent said they are planning to upgrade their technology systems over the next two years in order to meet their communities’ rising expectations for digital access.
Government CIOs say the following initiatives will be high on their list of priorities for the next 18 months:
IT modernization
Many agencies still rely on outdated and inefficient legacy IT systems and infrastructure that can be difficult to maintain, lack integration capabilities, and are vulnerable to security risks. Moving applications and services to the cloud enables agencies to streamline their operations, improve agility and enhance overall efficiency. Cloud migration also helps eliminate many repetitive infrastructure management tasks through increased levels of automation and orchestration.
Cybersecurity
Agencies are frequently targeted by ransomware gangs and other malicious actors seeking access to the vast amounts of personal constituent information agencies collect and store. Many are beefing up security with zero-trust network access (ZTNA) solutions that use access controls, multifactor authentication and other techniques to protect IT resources from unauthorized access.
Compliance
To ensure protection of constituent data, agencies must take steps to ensure compliance with data privacy regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation and the California Consumer Privacy Act. In Florida, agencies must also comply with multiple state statutes that address data security, ransomware response and breach notifications. Increased cloud adoption complicates compliance efforts, with data now extending across many more touch points.
Workforce recruiting
Finding, hiring and retaining skilled IT professionals is a challenge for state and local governments, especially when competing with the private sector. According to Gartner, cybersecurity job vacancies have increased by 350 percent over the past decade. The cloud skills gap “has reached a crisis level.” The pace of technological advancements requires continuous upskilling and training of existing IT staff to keep up with emerging technologies and trends.
Secure collaboration
Digital collaboration platforms allow agency personnel to maintain effective communications with colleagues and deliver essential services to constituents. However, they must use solutions that meet the high standards for security and privacy. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recommends securing collaboration platforms by using end-to-end encryption, requiring multifactor authentication, limiting the reuse of access codes and using one-time PINs for sensitive meetings.
Procurement optimization
Most agencies have multiple IT contracts for software licensing, hardware procurement, cloud services, support and maintenance, security, and other IT-related services. Effective contract negotiation strategies are key to IT cost optimization. For example, it is often possible to get volume discounts by consolidating purchases or committing to long-term contracts. Cooperative purchasing is another effective strategy. These arrangements allow multiple agencies to combine their purchases under a single contract to get bulk discounts.
Learn more at the FLGISA Conference
Verteks will be on hand to help government technology professionals explore these and other key topics during the Florida Local Government Information Systems Association 2023 Annual Conference. We are among the sponsors for the event, which will be held July 10-13 at the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. In addition to showcasing technology solutions and providing professional networking opportunities, the symposium offers attendees the opportunity to earn up to 15 hours of continuing education credits. Click here for more information and to register.
