{"id":209057,"date":"2026-05-05T11:49:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T15:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/testing.news-you-need.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/05\/state-cisos-are-losing-confidence-in-their-ability-to-secure-public-sector-data-study-finds\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T12:05:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T16:05:09","slug":"state-cisos-are-losing-confidence-in-their-ability-to-secure-public-sector-data-study-finds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/testing.news-you-need.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/05\/state-cisos-are-losing-confidence-in-their-ability-to-secure-public-sector-data-study-finds\/","title":{"rendered":"State CISOs are losing confidence in their ability to secure public-sector data, study finds"},"content":{"rendered":"

State CISOs are losing confidence in their ability to secure public-sector data, study finds<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.smartcitiesdive.com\/news\/state-cisos-cybersecurity-2026-NASCIO-Deloitte\/819333\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Publish Date: 2026-05-05 11:49:00<\/a><\/p>\n

Source Domain: www.smartcitiesdive.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Author: <\/a><\/p>\n

Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points. <\/p>\n

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Dive Brief:<\/p>\n

State chief information security officers are less confident in their ability to keep public data secure, according to a 2026 cybersecurity study by the National Association of State Chief Information Officers and Deloitte. Only 22% of state CISOs described themselves as \u201cextremely\u201d or \u201cvery confident\u201d they could protect public data, down from 48% in 2022, the study found. \u00a0
\nAging technology infrastructure and increasingly sophisticated cyberthreats were the top challenges survey participants identified, followed by insufficient cybersecurity budgets.\u00a0
\nThe lowered confidence comes as cyberattacks on local government networks are on the rise and the Trump administration stopped funding for a major federal cybersecurity program for states in 2025.<\/p>\n

Dive Insight:
\nThe biggest cyberthreats to states the respondents anticipate in the coming year are security breaches involving a third party (cited by 78%), phishing attacks (67%) and artificial intelligence-enabled attacks (55%).
\nThe CISOs also signaled a loss in confidence in the ability of local government and public higher education to protect public data. CISOs who describe themselves as \u201cnot very confident\u201d in those institutions\u2019 abilities jumped from 35% in 2022 to 63% in 2026.\u00a0
\nSome experts point to the proliferation of artificial intelligence for increasing state and local government vulnerability to cyberthreats. AI has the capacity \u201cto generate vast numbers of attacks at minimal cost,\u201d the NASCIO-Deloitte report states, and it can also create convincing deepfakes that can infiltrate systems.
\nState CISOs expressed concern that increased AI adoption within state and local governments creates increasing liability, as employees might enter sensitive data into newly AI-enabled features of existing programs and platforms.
\n\u201cVendors are increasingly embedding AI capabilities into products and services without sufficient transparency or state-level control, effectively inflicting AI on operational environments before comprehensive risk assessments or policy frameworks can be applied,\u201d one CISO told researchers. Such updates can leave states \u201cin a reactive position.\u201d\u00a0
\nNearly all the survey respondents say their states are adopting state-level generative AI strategies, policies and best practices, however, and the vast majority are using or planning to use genAI to enhance state cybersecurity operations.
\nWith 43% of state CISOs \u201cnot very confident\u201d in local government cyber practices, more states are also exploring whole-of-state cybersecurity, a centralized plan that extends support to local governments and schools.\u00a0
\n\u201cA stronger whole-of-state orientation could help municipalities defend against cyber threats that could also affect state systems,\u201d the report states.
\nDespite growing cybersecurity needs, state CISOs say resources are diminishing: 16% reported budget reductions in 2026, compared with no declines reported in 2024. Only 22% reported budget increases of 6% or more, down from 40% two years ago.\u00a0
\nStates are also relying less on federal support following Trump administration changes and uncertainty about future funding. The administration switched to a fee-based membership for the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, which previously received federal funding. Many state CISOs said they received federal State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program funding, but some noted challenges with meeting program application requirements, the program\u2019s short time frame and the level of funding available.
\nThe survey received responses from the CISOs of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.<\/p>\n

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