Concourse

South Dakota

IT Status Report & Strategic Plan

February 23, 2026 · Version 2.0

Executive Summary

Governor

Larry Rhoden (R)

CIO

Mark Wixon

CISO

Not publicly named

IT Organization

Bureau of Information and Technology (BIT)

State Agencies

80

Population

925K

✓ Key Strengths

  • CIO Mark Wixon brings 30+ years of IT experience with a mission-focused approach emphasizing capability modeling -- aligning technology upgrades directly with individual agency strategic goals rather than technology-first modernization
  • South Dakota Citizen Portal built on ServiceNow provides centralized digital services including park reservations, hunting licenses, and government records with virtual assistant 'Fez' and single sign-on access -- a model for small-state digital government
  • Comprehensive cybersecurity roadmap developed with a culture of continuous improvement, incorporating risk-based modernization and resilience as a core operational principle across all agency technology decisions
  • BEAD allocation of $207M+ approved by NTIA will dramatically expand broadband connectivity to rural and tribal communities through the Connect South Dakota program, with a structured challenge process ensuring transparent subgrantee selection

⚠ Key Risks

  • Governor Rhoden's FY2027 budget proposal includes no salary increases for 14,200 state employees, creating significant retention and recruitment risk for IT and cybersecurity positions that already compete with private sector in Sioux Falls
  • Elimination of the Digital Dakota Network saves $844K but removes a legacy telecommunications backbone -- transition planning must ensure rural and tribal agency connectivity is not disrupted during migration to alternative services
  • BIT budget of $91.8M reflects a 9.6% increase but includes mainframe software outsourcing and FTE reductions in development staff, concentrating institutional knowledge risk and creating vendor dependency for critical legacy systems
  • CIO leadership instability: three CIOs in 18 months (Jeffrey Clines, Madhu Gottumukkala who departed for CISA, now Mark Wixon) creates strategic continuity risk for multi-year modernization and cybersecurity initiatives

Capability Areas

Capability Radar

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

Current IT Projects

ProjectStatusDescriptionTimeline
BEAD Broadband DeploymentProposal Under Review$207M+ federal broadband program through Connect South Dakota to expand high-speed internet to unserved and underserved rural and tribal communities. Structured challenge process ensures transparent provider selection.2026-2030
Citizen Portal EnhancementActiveOngoing expansion of the ServiceNow-based South Dakota Citizen Portal adding new agency services, improving search capabilities, and enhancing virtual assistant 'Fez' to provide broader government service access from a single account.2025-2027
Cybersecurity Roadmap ImplementationIn ProgressExecuting comprehensive cybersecurity improvement roadmap emphasizing continuous improvement culture, risk-based modernization, and resilience across all state agency technology systems.2025-2027
Digital Dakota Network TransitionIn ProgressManaged decommissioning of the Digital Dakota Network telecommunications backbone, saving $844K annually while transitioning agencies to alternative connectivity solutions without service disruption.2025-2026
Mainframe Support ModernizationIn ProgressTransitioning mainframe operations to outsourced support model while evaluating long-term migration pathways to modern cloud platforms. Includes software license consolidation and cost optimization.2025-2027
Agency Capability Modeling InitiativeActiveCIO Wixon's signature initiative mapping technology capabilities to agency mission requirements, creating data-driven prioritization framework for modernization investments across all state agencies.2025-2026

100-Day Strategic Plan

Quick-win initiatives for immediate impact

200-Day Strategic Plan

Strategic initiatives for sustained transformation

Sources

  1. South Dakota Bureau of Information and Technology (BIT) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  2. GovTech: In South Dakota, Resilience Is a Continuous Journey, CIO Says (accessed 2026-02-23)
  3. GovTech: South Dakota's New CIO Takes Mission-Focused Approach to IT (accessed 2026-02-23)
  4. MeriTalk: South Dakota Taps Mark Wixon as CIO (accessed 2026-02-23)
  5. GovTech: South Dakota Modernizes Digital Services With Citizen Portal (accessed 2026-02-23)
  6. South Dakota BIT FY2026 Budget Brief - Legislative Research Council (accessed 2026-02-23)
  7. NTIA: Biden-Harris Administration Approves South Dakota BEAD Initial Proposal (accessed 2026-02-23)
  8. Connect South Dakota BEAD Program (accessed 2026-02-23)
  9. South Dakota Digital Opportunity Plan (accessed 2026-02-23)
  10. ServiceNow Customer Story: South Dakota (accessed 2026-02-23)
  11. Gov. Rhoden FY2027 Budget Address (SDPB) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  12. SD News Watch: Governor Offers No Increase in Big 3 Spending (accessed 2026-02-23)
  13. South Dakota Workforce Report 2024 - Department of Labor (accessed 2026-02-23)
  14. Digital Government Hub: South Dakota Bureau of Information and Telecommunications (accessed 2026-02-23)
  15. NASCIO 2026 State CIO Top Ten Policy and Technology Priorities (accessed 2026-02-23)
  16. South Dakota BEAD Volume 2 Initial Proposal (accessed 2026-02-23)