Center for Digital Government Released 2026 Survey Results
Nearly half of all U.S. states earned top-performer status in the latest biennial digital technology evaluation.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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The Center for Digital Government has released its 2026 Digital States Survey, highlighting technology accomplishments across all 50 states. The findings reveal that nearly half of states achieved top-performer status, with 11 states showing marked improvement since 2024.
Why it matters
The survey provides a critical benchmark for states to assess their progress, identify areas for digital improvement, and inform future technology strategies. It highlights widespread industry challenges, including persistent funding constraints and the need for better enterprise governance.
Nearly 80% of states are currently evaluating or piloting AI security platforms, while 80% report integrating AI across existing technology and policy. Meanwhile, 95% of IT leaders are navigating funding constraints and 78% cite governance challenges.
The players
Center for Digital Government
This national research and advisory institute focuses on information technology policies and best practices for state and local government agencies.
NASCIO
The National Association of State Chief Information Officers is a nonprofit organization representing state government IT executives across the United States.
The details
States were evaluated based on their priorities, operational improvements, cost savings, innovation, and collaboration over the last two years. The survey identifies cybersecurity as the primary IT priority for state governments, followed by agency collaboration and AI integration.
Timeline
2024 served as the baseline year for measuring comparative performance improvements.
The Center for Digital Government announced the survey results on September 24, 2026.
Awards will be presented at the NASCIO annual conference on September 27, 2026.
Roadmap
This survey marks a departure from legacy IT models by highlighting the rapid shift toward AI integration as a primary operational target for state governments. These findings update the performance standards previously established by the Center for Digital Government's Digital States Survey.
Residents may see improved service delivery and government efficiency as states prioritize cybersecurity and AI-driven infrastructure. These digital advancements are intended to modernize the public interface for citizens while addressing long-term enterprise governance challenges.
The takeaway
States are increasingly prioritizing AI-driven security and shared services to overcome budget limitations. Future strategy will likely focus on closing the gap between governance challenges and rapid technological adoption.
What happens next
The 2026 Digital States Survey awards will be formally presented to top-performing states on September 27, 2026, at the annual NASCIO conference in San Diego.
Further reading
For broader trends in public sector security, see the United States Cybersecurity section.
More information
Read the complete 2026 Digital States Survey results and summaries on the Government Technology portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Government Technology.
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