Concourse

California

IT Status Report & Strategic Plan

February 23, 2026 · Version 2.0

Executive Summary

Governor

Gavin Newsom (D)

CIO

Liana Bailey-Crimmins

CISO

Vitaliy Panych

IT Organization

California Department of Technology (CDT)

State Agencies

150

Population

39.0M

✓ Key Strengths

  • Envision 2026 three-year strategic plan with five clear goals (digital experiences, security, workforce, strategy alignment, future-proofing) and annual Roadmaps with OKR-based performance tracking
  • National leader in AI governance: Governor Newsom deployed first-in-nation GenAI technologies in state government (April 2025), launched 'Poppy' AI assistant for state employees, and established California Innovation Council
  • Achieved first 'A' grade in 2024 Digital States Survey under CIO Bailey-Crimmins -- demonstrating effective use of digital technologies in government and strong CDT leadership continuity since 2022
  • Comprehensive cybersecurity program with Cal-Secure strategic plan, Zero Trust Architecture adoption (SIMM 5350-A/B), Security Operations Center as a Service (SOCaaS) for state and local government, and centralized Cal-CSIC threat intelligence

⚠ Key Risks

  • $1.86B BEAD broadband deployment and $3.9B Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative face execution risk at unprecedented scale -- 339,000 locations with 7,250 miles of fiber construction deadline of December 2026
  • CalSAWS benefits system serving 5.3M CalFresh recipients across all 58 counties is operational but ongoing Oracle-to-AWS migration and infrastructure modernization introduce transition risk
  • State budget constraints may impact IT investment: CDT's ambitious Envision 2026 goals require sustained funding through economic uncertainty and competing budget priorities
  • Massive organizational scope: 150+ departments with widely varying technical maturity and over $10B in annual IT spending make consistent standards enforcement challenging even with CDT authority

Capability Areas

Capability Radar

Cybersecurity & …AI & AutomationDigital Governme…Data Management …Workforce & TalentCloud ServicesBroadband & Conn…IT Procurement &…Interoperability…Legacy Moderniza…
California

Current IT Projects

ProjectStatusDescriptionTimeline
Envision 2026 Strategic Plan Implementation (Year 3)In ProgressFinal year of three-year technology roadmap with five strategic goals: digital experiences, secure investments, workforce strengthening, strategy alignment, and future-proofing. OKR-based performance tracking with quarterly dashboards.2024-2026
Middle-Mile Broadband InitiativeIn Progress$3.9B statewide middle-mile fiber network construction with 7,250 miles planned. 825 miles under Caltrans construction. All projects targeted for completion by December 2026 with network activation beginning January 2027.2023-2027
BEAD Broadband DeploymentSubgrantee Selection$1.86B federal broadband deployment targeting 339,000 eligible locations. CPUC managing subgrantee selection with mix of fiber (44%), LEO satellite (41%), and fixed wireless (15%).2025-2030
GenAI Government DeploymentActiveFirst-in-nation GenAI deployments for highway congestion, roadway safety, and call center optimization. Poppy AI assistant for state employees. California Innovation Council guiding responsible AI adoption.2025-ongoing
Zero Trust Architecture RolloutIn ProgressStatewide Zero Trust Architecture adoption per SIMM 5350-A/B standards. Maturity level assessments across departments with phased implementation roadmap aligned to NIST frameworks.2025-2027
CalSAWS Infrastructure ModernizationIn ProgressOracle-to-AWS migration for CalSAWS welfare benefits system serving all 58 counties. Infrastructure modernization including ServiceNow adoption for IT operations while maintaining service continuity for 5.3M CalFresh recipients.2024-2026

100-Day Strategic Plan

Quick-win initiatives for immediate impact

200-Day Strategic Plan

Strategic initiatives for sustained transformation

Sources

  1. California Department of Technology (CDT) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  2. Envision 2026: California's Technology Future -- Strategic Plan (accessed 2026-02-23)
  3. Envision 2026: Year 2 Roadmap 2025 (PDF) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  4. CDT: State CIO and Director Liana Bailey-Crimmins (accessed 2026-02-23)
  5. CDT: Building an Inclusive, Digital Future at the Speed of Trust (December 2025) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  6. Governor Newsom: First-in-the-Nation GenAI Technologies Deployment (April 2025) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  7. Governor Newsom: Innovation Council and Poppy AI Assistant Launch (December 2025) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  8. GovTech: California's Envision 2026 to Operationalize Best Practices (accessed 2026-02-23)
  9. CDT: How California is Centralizing Public Sector Cybersecurity (SOCaaS) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  10. CDT: Zero Trust Architecture Standard (SIMM 5350-A) and Roadmap (SIMM 5350-B) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  11. CDT: Middle-Mile Broadband Initiative Report (November 2024) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  12. Broadband Breakfast: California Announces BEAD Grant Winners ($1.86B) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  13. CDT: Broadband For All Update December 2025 (accessed 2026-02-23)
  14. CalSAWS - California Statewide Automated Welfare System (accessed 2026-02-23)
  15. CDSS: Statewide Automated Welfare System (SAWS/CalSAWS) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  16. California State Controller's Office: Active State Employees by Department (2025) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  17. CDT: 2024 Statewide Information Technology Annual Report (accessed 2026-02-23)
  18. NASCIO 2025 State CIO Top 10 Priorities (accessed 2026-02-23)