Expanding Digital Services: Putting Residents First

Maryland and other states are setting new standards for digital government. Maryland's AI-focused strategy is paving the way for user-centered, secure, and accessible services across the nation. According to an article from GovTech, in 2024, state and local governments have taken impressive strides to reshape the way they deliver services, increasingly prioritizing user-friendly, digital-first experiences. Maryland leads amongst other states. Governor Moore unveiled a transformative approach to technology. The new four-part plan includes the creation…

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Tackling Cybersecurity Staffing Needs: Insights From State IT Officers

As governments face the mounting challenge of evolving cybersecurity threats, strategies from other states reveal how tailored talent development initiatives can help build a skilled workforce. As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, the demand for a skilled and qualified workforce grows, especially within local government. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for state and local governments to maintain a robust cybersecurity workforce. During the recent NASCIO Annual Conference, leaders from Kansas, Nebraska, and New Hampshire…

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CISA Unveils Election Threat Hub: Essential Support for County Election Officials, Voters

This week, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) launched a new one-stop shop website for election threat updates from CISA and our federal government partners. Part of the #Protect2024 site launched in January, the page aims to make it easier to find specific threat-related products that the residents can use to stay informed and the election community can use to prepare, including: Joint Statements on Election Threats: Collaborative updates from CISA, the Office of the…

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Indiana Initiative Brings Free, Secure Websites To Local Govs

Indiana is paving the way for more accessible and secure digital government services by offering free website hosting to local governments statewide. The Indiana Office of Technology (IOT) is now providing free website hosting to local governments. The goal is improve cybersecurity, accessibility, and digital services across its state. Through a new agreement with Tyler Technologies, local agencies can opt-in to host their websites on IN.gov. Jurisdictions will benefit from enhanced security, support, and ease…

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Maryland Launches Nation’s Largest State-Level Bug Bounty Program

Maryland has launched the most expansive state-level bug bounty program in the US, improving the State’s ability to detect cybersecurity vulnerabilities on its systems. Managed by the Department of Information Technology (DoIT), the program has identified over 40 exploitable vulnerabilities, strengthening the State’s digital infrastructure. Inspired by successful federal initiatives like the Department of Defense’s “Hack the Pentagon,” Maryland’s program enables the State to proactively secure its systems and address vulnerabilities before malicious actors can…

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A Whole-of-Country Cybersecurity Approach

As cyber threats become more sophisticated, state and local government collaboration opportunities are vital to strengthening defenses. As the cyber threat landscape continues to evolve, state and local governments are enhancing their defenses, but collaboration across all levels is vital. A recent Government Technology article discusses the current cybersecurity landscape in state and local governments, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to defend against cyber threats. Chief Information Officers (CIOs) stress the need for…

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Domain Shift: Why Governments Are Rethinking Their Web Addresses

Domains like ".gov" are only available to US government entities and organizations, unlike ".com", ".org", or ".us", which anyone can purchase. By transitioning to a ".gov" domain, counties can safeguard online services and foster greater public confidence. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) hosted its annual legislative summit, convening the nation’s largest gathering of state legislators and legislative staff this August in Louisville. NCSL dedicated a full day of programming to AI, cybersecurity, and…

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NACo EDGE Webinar: AI Leadership Academy Registration Open Now!

NACo has a new online Leadership course offering! This fully online and facilitated program provides the comprehensive detail that leaders need to navigate the changes of government work relative to available technologies and the human needs of our society.  If you are like most government leaders today, you are looking for the best way to understand the power of AI, mitigate the risk of AI, and navigate the complexity of cascading change occurring because of…

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Cybersecurity Funds Available for Schools and Libraries

The six-week filing period to apply to join the federal Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program began in mid-September and will end on November 1st.  A federal pilot program sponsored by the Federal Communications Commission, intends to help schools and libraries pay for cybersecurity work. The application period for funding has opened and awards are meant to help schools or libraries in four major areas: advanced firewalls, endpoint protection, identity protection, and authentication. Additional funds…

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Enroll Today! NACo AI Leadership Academy

The National Association of Counties (NACo) has announced a new professional development opportunity, the NACo Artificial Intelligence (AI) Leadership Academy, an innovative online program to equip frontline county government leaders with practical knowledge and tools. The six-week pilot course is designed to help county officials better understand and utilize AI to increase effectiveness and advance excellence in public service. “We are pleased to offer this new resource for counties,” said NACo Chief Information Officer Rita…

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