Governments are increasingly turning to technology to solve everyday problems, and many state governments have taken advantage of the technological revolution in recent years with impressive results.
Here are six state government technology solutions that will continue shaping our world as we know it today, tomorrow, and into the distant future.
- Digital Infrastructure
The need for digital infrastructure is clear. According to a recent survey, 83% of Americans believe that it is very important or somewhat important for their state governments to make sure that all residents have access to high-speed internet. As technology becomes more and more integrated into people’s lives, government agencies will need to provide citizens with internet service to remain accessible and be of helpful use as a child support program. The use of technology by state governments will be critical in providing this necessary service.
- Cybersecurity
In a world where data breaches can happen at any time, governments must make cybersecurity a priority. Sometimes those breaches are on purpose by people who want to steal information or commit fraud. Other times, it’s accidental. Either way, when you’re entrusted with our country’s security and safety, you need to be prepared for anything. These six states are leading the way in cybersecurity
- Efficiency
Efficiency is one of these trends. With budget constraints and more responsibilities, government agencies are looking for ways to do more with less. Governments need efficient IT solutions that can reduce costs and increase productivity. One of the most efficient tools for governments is cloud computing. Cloud computing allows agencies to spend less time maintaining costly hardware infrastructures and more time providing high-value services to their citizens.
- Delivering Quality Services
A well-designed government website can be a powerful tool for providing services and information to citizens. However, an ineffective or poorly designed site will have the opposite effect and make people want to avoid interacting with your agency. To stay on top of trends, government agencies must embrace technology in a way that does not stifle creativity but instead provides citizen-centric experiences.
- Data Sharing
Data sharing is becoming a critical component of state-level governance. Increasingly, state governments are being asked to use data from other sectors, and to provide data for other sectors. These emerging data-sharing trends are shaping how states govern themselves today and will continue to shape government tomorrow.
- Innovation and Sustainability
Innovation and sustainability are two big trends in state government technology. Innovation refers to new products and services, while sustainability focuses on reducing energy consumption, waste, and cost. Cloud computing is an example of innovation: it has grown in popularity because it allows state agencies to pay for only what they need when they need it, instead of making long-term commitments to hardware. Going paperless is a great example of how many states are working towards sustainability: it saves money on printing costs and makes archiving easier.
Conclusion
The future of government technology is bright. This was a glimpse of the increasing number of state government technology solutions that help state governments become more efficient, more effective, and more responsive to citizens’ needs. It’s up to you to make it happen.