For years, The National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) has released its annual State CIO Top Ten Policy and Technology Priorities for 2025; tech vendors, industry professionals, and chief information officers (CIOs) themselves use the information to help inform their digital strategy. 

This year, we can’t say we’re surprised at the top picks.

Weighing in on NASCIO’s 2025 Top 10 CIO Priorities

NASCIO surveyed 50 state and territory CIOs to identify top policy and technology issues facing state government. Many of our in-house experts pinpointed these same priorities as trends you’ll probably hear more about next year: 

1. Cybersecurity has reclaimed the top spot after being tied with digital government services in 2024. Consumers increasingly worry about data breaches, hacks, and digital fraud, so if agencies aren’t meeting people’s data security expectations, they risk permanently losing residents’ trust.

Last year, we highlighted data security as a priority, and it once again surfaced as a trend for 2025, specifically Identity and Access Management (IAM). NASCIO’s report separates IAM and secure cloud services from cybersecurity, and they fall into spots seven and eight, respectively.

It’s no surprise that CIOs selected cybersecurity as their top priority, especially as advancements in technology amplify the risks of identity fraud and AI misuse.  

2. Artificial intelligence (AI) moved into the second spot, up from third in 2024; however, it did nab the top pick for tools and applications this year. 

AI use includes everything from chatbots to digital assistants to process automation. We’ve been reporting on AI’s increasing relevance for a couple of years now — including how consumers feel about AI in digital government services and practical applications for government staff. Similar to NASCIO’s report, we’re expecting to see more official policies and defined AI use cases in digital government services.    

3. Digital government services will remain in the top three going into 2025. Resident experience (which is near and dear to our hearts) is paired with improved payment portals and identity management. This targeted investment in proactive consumer experiences is something we’re predicting to trend next year.

As agencies pursue improvements in their digital government services, expect to see:

• Digital services designed around meeting people where they are (e.g., Do they prefer to pay on mobile devices, desktop, or in person?)
• Using AI to personalize experiences
• Digital-first and event-based approaches to government services 

Some other notable priorities we found interesting: 

• Accessibility makes the list. The surprising part is that this is the first time accessibility has made the list of Top 10 CIO Priorities. You could absolutely lump this in with digital government services (or another similar category), but as proponents of digital services for all, we’re happy to see that ensuring accessibility is on the list.
  
• Budgeting, cost control, and workforce changes all grabbed spots in the top 10. As we’ve talked about before, staffing shortages and cultural changes are transforming how and where people work — something government agencies must prepare for. Staff shortages, skills misalignment, and the need for more technical professionals are part of the budgeting conversation. 
  
  Agencies will be expected to do more with less — and need to rethink internal processes, automate more, and upskill staff, but there’s a real opportunity to capitalize on the benefits of increased resident tech adoption.  
  
• Legacy modernization is still a top priority, but it falls one spot this year. Hopefully, this reflects the industry’s understanding of the need to update back-end SORs — and the hard work of already putting these projects in motion. 

As reflected in NASCIO’s 2025 Top 10 CIO Priorities, government agencies will have to find a balance between technical agility, data security, and consumer experience. As governments continue to modernize, agencies will face challenges related to new technology and higher user expectations.