More than ever before, policymakers realized technology’s importance

Governments rallied technology SWAT teams, states rushed out upgrades to systems that were already decades behind the times and state workers who weren’t traditionally involved in the technological workings of government business became more engaged in cybersecurity practices as they worked from home. The biggest takeaway for government IT in 2020 is that the role of chief information officers has been cemented as essential. As one CIO put it: “We were not only at the table but chairing the meetings.”

Whether because they were stuck at home or enraptured by hourly updates on the health crisis, members of the public, too, became more engaged with government through the use of technology. The pandemic introduced innumerable changes to how government operates, including remote work and faster timelines on delivering services. CIOs said they expect many of these changes to stick.