50 Must-Read State and Local Government IT Blogs
One thing state and local governments have in common right now is a tight budget. Residents demand that their municipality employ the utmost efficiency with their tax dollars. And why shouldn’t they? Emerging technology has created an opportunity for these agencies to not only save money but also to innovate and engage with citizens.
These 50 state and local IT blogs will help government IT pros stay ahead of the curve. We’ve scoured the web and compiled an assortment of blogs that serve CIOs, IT workers, social media specialists and people who are interested in tapping technology to spur innovation and cost savings in the public sector.
So whether you’re looking for information about BYOD (bring your own device), telework, server virtualization, cloud computing or network infrastructure, there is a resource here for you.
If your favorite state and local government technology blog has been omitted from the list, please let us know by leaving a comment. Has your blog been selected? Click here to get a badge for your website.
B2G Breaking Views
The government IT experts at Deltek share insight about the latest industry news and how it affects the need for products and services in state and local government. From big data to social media to shared services and everything in between, Deltek analysts shed light on key developments of concern to public-sector IT leaders. The frequent blog posts spell out what’s happening, and where, along with what’s likely to happen next.
| Read the blog: iq.govwin.com
BasicGov Blog
Visitors to this blog will encounter a virtual pep squad about cloud computing. Written by a team of authors from software provider BasicGov, the content highlights success stories of states and localities that have embraced software as a service. Areas of coverage intended to invite discussion include cloud computing, SaaS and e-government.
| Read the blog: basicgov.com/blog
Building a Smarter Planet
IBM defines a smarter planet as one in which the world becomes instrumented, intelligent and interconnected. The company seeks to infuse analytics into the systems and processes that make the world work, and government, of course, plays a huge role there. Written by a team of contributors, this blog serves up thought-provoking content about topics ranging from green computing to healthcare.
| Read the blog: asmarterplanet.com
CIO Dashboard
Chris Curran, a principal at PwC, concentrates on technology innovation and the role of IT in the global economy with the annual “Digital IQ Study.” His blog hits on the current topics garnering attention from CIOs and CTOs across industries — areas such as mobility, cloud computing, social media and collaboration. Curran likes to share, too: CIO Dashboard features a handy compendium of public-sector CIO Twitter accounts to follow.
| Read the blog: ciodashboard.com
CIO Musings
Barry Condrey, CIO for Chesterfield County, Va., maintains this personal blog to weigh in on technology, people and social media. The IT leader offers insight into a variety of topics, such as technology basics that apply to public-sector leadership, and the top 10 issues concerning social media in local government. Visitors to the blog will find diversions for their time away from the office, too, such as a recipe for slow-cooked chili and a review of a theater show.
| Read the blog: cio-musings.blogspot.com
Cisco Government Blog
Experts with networking powerhouse Cisco engage the public-sector community to discuss how technology drives government transformation. Topics covered include cloud computing, cybersecurity, mobility, telework and collaboration. A Blogs at a Glance feature allows visitors to view posts by most recent, most commented on or most popular.
| Read the blog: blogs.cisco.com/category/government
Code for America
The nonprofit Code for America describes itself as a “Peace Corps for Geeks.” Focused on helping governments become more connected, lean and participatory by tapping the people and the power of the web, Code for America contributors blog about ideas for achieving those goals. Not surprisingly, there’s a strong emphasis on open data, transparency, innovation and collaboration.
| Read the blog: codeforamerica.org/blog
Community Broadband Networks
Telecom infrastructure has become the utility of the 21st century — essential to the health and vitality of the community. This blog by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, an organization that encourages ownership structures such as public, coop or non-profit, provides news about broadband networks. Readers will find examples of localities sharing networks and success stories about access spurring economic development.
| Read the blog: muninetworks.org
Cops 2.0
Social networking and technology affect how police communicate with and serve the public. Christa Miller, a specialist in law enforcement and digital forensics, maintains this blog to offer guidance about maintain transparency and using technology to ensure public safety. From Twitter to wearable cameras to mapping cell phone evidence, Cops 2.0 covers it all.
| Read the blog: cops2point0.com
Corrections Technology Association Blog
Maintained by the Corrections Technology Association, this blog focuses on the use of technology in federal, state, county and local correctional agencies. Written for CIOs, IT directors and other staff, topics range from interjurisdictional data sharing to in-cell computing to unauthorized use of cell phones.
| Read the blog: correctionstech.org/blog
Data Center Knowledge
DCK bills itself as the go-to source for online information and analysis on the data center industry. Edited by Rich Miller, with numerous contributors, the site’s multiple daily news and opinion posts are searchable by company, region, industry sector and infrastructure type. The Industry Perspectives blog provides a forum for thought leaders as well as those in the trenches, including a series of informative and highly entertaining slice-of-life posts, the Data Center Development Diary.
| Read the blog: datacenterknowledge.com
Dave Fletcher's Government and Technology Weblog, v. 2.0
Dave Fletcher, Utah’s chief technology officer, launched his blog a decade ago to highlight the best of digital government in the state. Today, he shares his thoughts about e-government, public administration, languages, international relations and more in this wide-ranging resource. Recent posts hit on the success of Jobs.Utah.gov, the state’s digital portal, and on real-world examples of “The Internet of Things.”
| Read the blog: davidfletcher.blogspot.com
Digital Citizen Pulse
Government IT empowers citizen participation and input, according to Ulf Wolf, the person behind this blog. A writer and photographer with an IT background, Wolf covers the importance of engaging with the public in this digital age. Subjects explored include broadband billing, solid-state drives, seniors on the web and even digital music.
| Read the blog: digitalcommunities.com/blogs/digital-citizen
DigitalGov Group
Kristy Fifelski, former manager of web services and social media for Reno, Nev. (and creator of the popular GovGirl video blog), takes her years of experience with digital technology and public service to a new gig, the DigitalGov Group. No detail of new media in government is too small for her: Best state government user names on Facebook? Best media format for senior citizens? Fifelski’s posts serve as a starting point for thinking about how state and local governments can use technology to best serve citizens.
| Read the blog: digitalgovgroup.com
DorobekInsider
Christopher Dorobek delivers news, insights and analysis on government policy, management and technology. This blogger boils down the latest developments for government IT leaders and highlights interesting reading from outside IT sites.
| Read the blog: dorobekinsider.com
The EMC Public Sector Blog
This blog — sponsored by cloud provider EMC2 — focuses entirely on hardcore IT issues, such as big data, cloud computing, FedRAMP and virtualization. There is no fluff here, just focused articles for the working IT professional. If you work in local, state or federal IT, this blog will be an invaluable resource.
| Read the blog: publicsectorblog.emc.com
Five Nines: The Next Generation Data Center
Technology veteran David Chernicoff explores the technologies that affect data center users and operators, such as “server consolidation and virtualization, green IT, and the latest hardware advances.” IT managers in state and local government can benefit from this blogger’s expertise as well as that of his fellow contributors.
| Read the blog: zdnet.com/blog/datacenter
Gartner Blog Network
The technology research and advisory company launched its first blog in 2003. Today, more than 50 analysts blog about industry leadership, emerging products and Gartner events. The blog contributors welcome debate on IT-related issues so that everyone can learn from the discussion.
| Read the blog: blogs.gartner.com
GigaOM
Begun in 2006 by tech blogger Om Malik, GigaOM now has an editorial staff of more than 20 and an online audience of 5.5 million. Multiple daily posts, both written and video, cover everything from cloud and cleantech to consumer web and financial news. For Mac devotees, there’s a channel devoted to everything Apple. GigaOM subscribers can access more in-depth research and analysis on a wealth of topics for an annual fee.
| Read the blog: gigaom.com
Governing Better, Faster, Cheaper Blog
Billing itself as “essential content for anyone who cares about public sector innovation,” this blog has a deep bench of blue-chip contributors, led by Stephen Goldsmith, former two-term mayor of Indianapolis and current director of the Innovations in American Government program at the Harvard Kennedy School. Writers examine ways to improve public services while lowering costs through creative use of technology, policy and partnerships. As one blogger observes, there’s “more than one way to fix a bridge.”
| Read the blog: governing.com/blogs/bfc
Governing People
Governing People is written by “the world’s best thinkers on e-government and open democracy.” That would be you, really. At the top of a long list of featured bloggers is YOU, which links to instructions for posting to the site. An advisory panel of bloggers provides a foundation of content and oversees the editorial quality of original and aggregated posts. In addition to individual bloggers and group blogs, there are blogs by government officials. Plenty of rich content on a variety of topics.
| Read the blog: governingpeople.com
Government Bits
You probably already know that Adobe creates first-class software applications. But did you know it publishes a government blog? Whether or not you are a user of the products, its blog is worth a read because it documents the revolutionary way technology is changing interactions between governments and citizens.
| Read the blog: blogs.adobe.com/adobeingovernment
GovFresh
Founded in 2009, GovFresh promotes “government–citizen collaboration” by profiling the civic innovators and new technologies that are shaping how government gets things done in the Gov 2.0 era. The site is rich with forward-thinking posts on civic startups, digital government apps, open data and open source, complemented by GovFreshTV video posts and Gov 2.0 guides on various topics that pull back the curtain even further.
| Read the blog: govfresh.com
GovLoop
With 50,000 members from federal, state and local government, and more than 1,000 blog posts and discussion forums each month, GovLoop is well on its way to achieving its mission: “Connect government to improve government.” Begun in 2008 by a young federal employee seeking answers to common government problems, GovLoop is now a venue for government workers who want to expand on their passion for public service by sharing their expertise, improving their skills with online tools and training, and collaborating with colleagues near and far.
| Read the blog: govloop.com/profiles/blog
GovWin from Deltek Blog Central
This is the ultimate source of information for government contractors. Whether you are an established supplier or a small business looking to get started, GovWin has the information and research you need. You’ll find useful posts like “FedRAMP: What Contractors Need to Know” and “First Year in Contracting: How to Find Your Customers.” This is a can’t-miss, must-read blog for all contractors.
| Read the blog: govwin.com/blog
Greg's Server and StorageIO Blog
Greg Schulz, founder and senior analyst of the Server and StorageIO Group, focuses on techniques and best practices that are foundational to building and maintaining an efficient and resilient IT data infrastructure. In addition to his blog, Schulz’s site is rich with resources — white papers, videos and podcasts, green metrics and calculators, and industry links — that make StorageIO a one-stop shop for information on data infrastructure technology.
| Read the blog: storageioblog.com
IBM Center for the Business of Government Blog
This blog’s primary focus is on management challenges facing the executive branch of the federal government. Following on a blog created to observe the 2008–2009 Obama transition, the IBM Center’s researchers share thoughts on the president’s transparency initiative and other issues facing the administration and government executives in other agencies as they work to implement the president’s agenda.
| Read the blog: businessofgovernment.org/blogs
IDC Community Insights Smart Government
IDC considers its Insights Community an “experiment in open research,” in which visitors take part in analyst-led discussions. The Smart Government group tackles a variety of issues — open government, smart technology, effective use of social media, funding for innovation — with illustrative anecdotes that make for good reading.
| Read the blog: idc-insights-community.com
InfoWorld Cloud Computing
David Linthicum, founder and chief technology officer of Blue Mountain Labs, writes prolifically and knowledgeably about the state of cloud technology. He tackles his subject in depth, but does so with a writing style that makes it accessible to those of us who are less tech-savvy. Linthicum’s evangelical approach makes clear to readers what they should be doing now (or should have done yesterday) to prepare for their move to the cloud.
| Read the blog: infoworld.com/d/cloud-computing/blogs
Intelligent Communities
Written by Robert Bell, John Jung and Louis Zacharilla, the Intelligent Communities blog focuses how places — big and small, urban and rural, industrial and developing — survive and thrive in the 21st century’s “Broadband Economy.” One of several blogs hosted by Digital Communities, Intelligent Communities serves as outreach for the Intelligent Communities Forum, a think tank on economic, social, cultural and environmental development in the 21st century community.
| Read the blog: digitalcommunities.com/blogs/communities
The IT Manager's Blog
What does it mean to be an IT manager? The answer, according to The IT Manager’s Blog, is always changing. Whether you are an IT project manager or CIO, your job is in flux as technology, particularly the cloud, changes. In addition to the technology, IT managers need to deal with processes and people. This site provides a well-rounded resource for IT workers.
| Read the blog: itmgr.org/blog
Jonathan Feldman LifeStream BIO
Jonathan Feldman is the director of IT services for the city of Ashville, N.C., so when he speaks (or, in this case, writes) we should all listen (or read). He offers his take on everything from Apple to private clouds for local governments.
| Read the blog: informationweek.com/authors
Lohrmann on Cybersecurity
Dan Lohrmann, Michigan’s chief security officer and director for cybersecurity infrastructure protection, sees his fellow security professionals as “enablers of innovation,” and his blog aims to support them in that role. His substantive posts on tech security best practices for government hit on both the timely (“Front Page Cyber”) and the fundamental (“Survival Tips for Using Social Media”), with a writing style that’s couched in anecdote and eminently readable. (Want to know how a cybersecurity expert does vacation Wi-Fi? Answer: very carefully.)
| Read the blog: govtech.com/blogs/lohrmann-on-cybersecurity
McAfee Public Sector Blog Central
McAfee draws on its expertise in the security arena to keep readers of this blog informed about public-sector security best practices, legislation and security events. Bloggers seek to spread the word that government agencies are as susceptible to cybercrime as private corporations are — and as ripe for prevention tactics. Recent posts have covered industry-government collaboration and the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act.
| Read the blog: blogs.mcafee.com/enterprise/public-sector
Microsoft Bright Side of Government Blog
Because of its comprehensive productivity suite and track record of first-rate products, Microsoft is a major provider of software to the federal government as well as state and local governments. Find out how governments are innovating and saving money with software like SharePoint and Office 365.
| Read the blog: microsoft.com/industry/government/state/brightside
Mobile WorkHorse
Mobile technology encompasses the hardware that makes it fit in our hands, the software that makes it productive and the infrastructure that makes it all possible. Al Sacco, senior editor at CIO.com, covers those topics and more on the Mobile WorkHorse blog, with a focus on RIM’s BlackBerry environment.
| Read the blog: blogs.cio.com/blog/mobile-workhorse
NASCIO Community Blog
Short for the National Association of State Chief Information Officers, NASCIO provides forums for members to discuss issues and work together. This is one of the many member benefits of NASCIO, but the benefits extend to the entire tech community. Follow any topics relevant to CIOs, including server architecture, budgets and procurement.
| Read the blog: community.nascio.org/NASCIO/Blogs
NASTD Blogs
Another group that state and local government IT workers should pay close attention to, the National Association of State Technology Directors addresses leadership and management for information technology as well as tech-minded topics, such as big data. In general, it focuses on the strategies needed to successfully implement new technology.
| Read the blog: nastd.org/industrynetwork
Nextgov Tech Insider
Nextgov covers everything a techie could ever ask for. This robust blog will satisfy your need for news on emerging technology, cybersecurity, mobility, health and cloud computing. They work with some of the best reports and tech writers in the industry, so you will always find new, relevant and interesting content here.
| Read the blog: techinsider.nextgov.com
Public Great
If you are looking for news focused on state and local technology, Governing’s Public Great blog is the Promised Land. Its articles are particularly insightful and should cause CIOs and CTOs to stop and think about their approach to new technology’s impact on governments.
| Read the blog: governing.com/blogs/public-great
SmarterCities Scan
The SmarterCities Tumblr site is a pinboard of fantastic ideas to make our cities happier, smarter, and more efficient. The Pinterest-style theme makes this site a breath of fresh air in a technology community that can sometimes be stuffy. Even better, anyone can post an idea, a video, a photo or a blog post. You’ll be inspired by this great blog!
| Read the blog: smartercities.tumblr.com
Sustainability Tech
The Sustainable City Network produces content on everything from energy to transportation to finance. But technology makes a sustainable city go round, which is why Brad Schweikert covers the software, the hardware and the legislation that make it all happen. It won’t take long to see why Sustainability Tech is one of our must-read blogs.
| Read the blog: sustainablecitynetwork.com/blogs
Symantec Public Sector Group
Crowdsourced blogs can provide some of the most insightful, informative and relevant news — if they are done right. Well, Symantec does it right, and its Public Sector blog is loaded with great articles on products and events. And the best part is that you can add your own thoughts on topics that relate to “the Federal Government, State & Local Government, Defense & Intelligence, and Education.”
| Read the blog: symantec.com/connect/groups/public-sector
Tales from the Technoverse
Written by Dan Mintz — COO at Powertek Corporation, adjunct professor at the University of Maryland University College and former CIO at the Transportation Department — Tales from the Technoverse covers cloud computing, telework, social networking and more. Mintz has a unique perspective, having worked in higher education, private industry and the government.
| Read the blog: ourownlittlecorner.com
TechPresident
This is a fascinating blog, created specifically to cover how the presidential candidates used the Internet as a campaigning tool in 2008. Since then, the blog has expanded coverage to include state and local elections. The blog’s staff is currently gearing up for the 2012 presidential election, where social media and web content will play a central role. The blog is cross-partisan and includes writers from many different political backgrounds. It’s sure to be a great read in the coming months.
| Read the blog: techpresident.com
The Chief Seattle Geek Blog
Former Seattle CTO Bill Schrier’s varied work experience in the public sphere — as an Army officer and reservist, policeman and high school teacher — informs his perspective on technology and local government. In his new role as deputy director of e.Republic’s Center for Digital Government, Schrier oversees the Digital Communities program, which serves as his new online home. (Those who knew him as the Chief Seattle Geek will be glad to learn that he’s archived his old blog posts on the new site.)
| Read the blog: schrier.wordpress.com
Toughbloggers
Do you prefer computers and tablets that can “withstand vibration, drops, spills, extreme temperature?” If you are like the Pennsylvania State Police, you understand the enormous benefits of the rugged Panasonic Toughbooks and Toughpads. But the Panasonic Solutions for Business Blog isn’t tooting its own horn. The blog offers commentary and reports on real IT issues, with a focus on tools for workers in the field.
| Read the blog: toughbloggers.comm
Washington Post - Post Tech
Cecilia Kang heads up the Washington Post tech blog. She focuses on government Internet policies and the intersection of technology and businesses. You’ll also find news on tech patents, hardware and social media. She is a pro, and you can expect several new posts each day.
| Read the blog: washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-tech
William Greeves
William Greeves, director of communications and IT for Roanoke County, Va., and co-founder of MuniGov2.0, is a self-described “government CIO interested in social media strategies, tools and best practices for government.” He uses his blog as a space to discuss trends and disseminate the latest news on government’s use of Web 2.0.
| Read the blog: williamgreeves.com
ZDNet Government by David Gewirtz
David Gewirtz is an experienced writer, computer scientist and policy adviser. His work on ZDNet focuses on cybersecurity and policy. If it involves technology, Gewirtz has written about it. According to ZDNet, this is “where civics lessons meet technology, nothing is sacred, and everything is fair game.”
| Read the blog: zdnet.com/blog/government
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