Consolidation, Virtualization Top State Government CIO Priorities

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Other strategy and technology priorities listed in the survey also reflect budget-conscious IT departments. Implementing shared services -- such as business models, resources, and infrastructure -- and improving IT governance to make departments and agencies within states run more smoothly and in closer collaboration came in fifth and sixth, respectively, as strategy priorities.

Implementing solutions such as better document and records management, business intelligence, and analytics applications and identity and access management, were listed as complementary technology priorities.

Security, too, is a priority for state CIOs, but lower on the list than might be expected. Strategies such as performing risk assessment, dealing with insider threats and implementing third-party security practices came in seventh on the list of strategy priorities, while security enhancement tools took the same position on the technology priority list.

Even as they try to squeeze the most out of flagging IT budgets, the survey showed that state CIOs still want to use IT to expand government services and engagement, although these activities are of lower priority.

Improving statewide broadband connectivity and establishing public safety wireless network and telehealth solutions came in at No. 8 on the list of strategies and solutions for state CIOs, while legacy modernization to improve business processes came in at number nine.

Increasing the use of social media and networking through wikis, blogs, collaboration technologies, and social networking came in tenth on the list of technology priorities. Indeed, governments across the board have been leveraging social media to increase their engagement with citizens as well as improve how public agencies and departments collaborate.