Finance

In a mixed economic environment, how are cybersecurity budgets competing among business priorities, and what may be ahead for 2026?

The $11.5 million allotment for the Commonwealth Office of Digital Experience is intended to support single sign-on access, website upgrades and broader modernization across agencies.

Overhauling government procurement is a complex task that requires clarity of purpose, especially for large-scale IT projects. Lessons from California offer examples of how to weigh priorities and navigate trade-offs.

The deal gives CoreTrust and its supplier network access into private and charter schools — some 4,000 of which are served via BuyQ. CoreTrust recently signed a deal with two major U.S. cities.

Plus, broadband permitting legislation advances in the U.S. Congress, a project aims to expand connectivity to boost agriculture technology adoption, Oklahoma has kicked off a fiber project and more.

The San Francisco Tech Council, a multi-sector collaborative, powers digital inclusion work in the city through events and trainings. It supports agencies and practitioners in navigating the landscape.

The grants, for which public agencies must apply, promise to benefit the business of government technology. The federal agency also announced $500 million in grants for protection against unlawful use of drones.

Plus, the Network Equipment Transparency Act passed in the U.S. Senate, San Francisco is expanding its free Wi-Fi network, Alabama has made progress on the construction of its middle-mile network, and more.

The county, which is home to Chicago, has partnered with AidKit to issue $1,000 cash grants to homeowners there who are facing sharp property tax increases.

With the average cost of breaches on the rise, cybersecurity must be regarded like any other disaster, according to the Local Government Cybersecurity Alliance. Residual costs of incidents must be accounted for, a co-founder said.

The company gathers procurement data and signals from agencies and turns them into action for sellers of public-sector technology. The investment is just the latest bet on AI for local and state government.

The Georgia-based firm, looking to expand, has won a “strategic investment” from Riata Capital Group. The move comes as more public agencies beef up their payment offerings for taxes, permitting and other transactions.

At the most recent gathering of state CIOs and gov tech vendors, talk turned to ongoing and looming challenges posed by federal budget cuts. Tech leaders gave guidance about how to keep moving forward as problems mount.

At the annual gathering of state CIOs, public-sector tech leaders offered tips about better procurement, including more use of master contracts. They also detailed what they are doing better.

The company, which sells financial management software to public agencies, recently bought coUrbanize. The deal is paying off with Gravity’s newest product offerings. Its CEO gives the details.

Plus, a digital inclusion nonprofit filed a lawsuit challenging the repeal of the Digital Equity Act, a new class of Vermont broadband technicians have graduated, New Mexico is expanding public Wi-Fi, and more.

A new report from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers examines the role of state chief data officer with perspective from 27 people occupying that position, on everything from experience to funding.

City Council members unanimously approved a motion to amend the city’s Homeless Action Plan with AI-generated recommendations from ChatGPT. The shift restricts how public funds can be used.