State chief information security officers (CISOs) are confronting a rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape in which artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are being used both to launch more sophisticated cyberattacks – and to strengthen state defenses against them – according to a new report from the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) and Deloitte.

The Department of Defense (DOD) Chief Information Officer (CIO) will host the finale of its ASCEND “Shark Tank”-style competition on May 1, where five finalists will present their proposals to a panel of DOD experts.

The Department of Defense (DOD) – rebranded as the Department of War last year – has issued a new call to academia for “groundbreaking entry-level curriculum in AI and cybersecurity to prepare the next generation for the digital front lines.”

Maryland’s Department of Information Technology announced on Tuesday a new statewide cybersecurity and privacy policy that shifts the state away from its “trust but verify” model in favor of a zero trust framework.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott awarded a $149 million grant to Texas Tech University to support the development of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) testing site and make cybersecurity infrastructure enhancements, according to a press release from the governor’s office.

Louisiana Tech University (LA Tech) is establishing a new student-run security operations center (SOC) to strengthen its security posture, expand its cybersecurity talent pipeline, and attract high-achieving students to campus.

Manassas City Public Schools reopened Nov. 12 on a two-hour delay following a cybersecurity incident that disrupted district operations, officials said in a letter to parents.

Arizona’s top cybersecurity official is warning that state and local governments cannot stand alone against sophisticated nation-state cyber threats, stressing that defending against adversaries such as the China-linked “Salt Typhoon” requires collective action across government, industry, and international partners.

Nevada officially launched the state’s Office of Information Security & Cyber Defense (OISCD) on July 1 and appointed Adam Miller as its inaugural deputy director.

It was previously assumed that nation-state actors primarily targeted federal agencies or major enterprises for their national secrets or big-ticket data, rather than investing the time, money, and resources attacking smaller organizations like local or even state governments.