Concourse

Utah

IT Status Report & Strategic Plan

February 23, 2026 · Version 2.0

Executive Summary

Governor

Spencer Cox (R)

CIO

Alan Fuller

CISO

Not publicly named (DTS Security Division)

IT Organization

Division of Technology Services (DTS), Department of Government Operations

State Agencies

30

Population

3.4M

✓ Key Strengths

  • First-in-the-nation Office of AI Policy, Regulation, and Innovation under the Department of Commerce provides a balanced regulatory framework with a voluntary Learning Lab and regulatory mitigation program -- positioning Utah as the national model for state AI governance
  • Utah.gov consistently ranked #1 in digital government services by the Center for Digital Government (six times since 2006) with 1,800+ online services, and Adobe's 2025 Digital Government Index recognized Utah as a top-ranked state portal with 37.4% mobile speed improvement
  • Pioneering State-Endorsed Digital Identity (SEDI) framework built on open standards gives individuals control over verifiable digital credentials -- legislation planned for 2026 to establish guidelines for identity verifiers and wallet providers, with multistate consortium discussions underway
  • Whole-of-state cybersecurity strategy leveraging $13M+ in SLCGP federal funding and $4M state match to conduct vulnerability assessments across local governments, with CIO Alan Fuller testifying before Congress on the program's effectiveness as NASCIO Vice President

⚠ Key Risks

  • HCM and payroll system modernization replacing decades-old infrastructure is a multi-year, high-complexity transformation affecting all 90,000+ state employees -- delays or implementation failures could disrupt payroll operations statewide
  • Federal pressure on Utah's AI legislation from the Trump White House creates regulatory uncertainty, with the administration labeling a proposed child safety AI bill 'unfixable' while Governor Cox advocates for state autonomy in AI policy
  • BEAD broadband allocation of ~$317M requires rapid transition from planning to construction, with fiber deployment across Utah's challenging mountain and desert geography creating significant logistical and workforce challenges
  • DTS budget of $277M must support expanding cloud migration, cybersecurity, AI adoption, digital identity, and HCM modernization simultaneously -- resource contention among high-priority initiatives could stretch capacity

Capability Areas

Capability Radar

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

Current IT Projects

ProjectStatusDescriptionTimeline
MyUtah Citizen PortalIn ProgressBuilding a unified, user-friendly portal for residents and visitors to access government services across all state agencies, replacing fragmented agency-specific websites with a cohesive digital experience.2024-2026
HCM and Payroll System ModernizationIn ProgressComprehensive transformation of the state's human capital management and payroll systems, replacing decades-old infrastructure to improve HR services, payroll processing, and workforce analytics for 90,000+ state employees.2025-2027
State-Endorsed Digital Identity (SEDI)In DevelopmentPioneering digital identity framework built on open standards giving individuals control over verifiable credentials. Legislation planned for 2026 with multistate consortium discussions underway for coordinated adoption.2025-2027
BEAD Broadband DeploymentApproved~$317.4M federal broadband program to connect unserved and underserved locations across Utah, including $26M supporting Navajo Nation tribal connectivity. Broadband Infrastructure Grant applications open with construction pending.2025-2029
AI Policy and Regulatory FrameworkActiveOperating the nation's first Office of AI Policy with Learning Lab, regulatory mitigation program, and ongoing legislative activity including healthcare AI pilot programs and consumer protection amendments.Ongoing
Whole-of-State Cybersecurity ProgramActiveLeveraging $13M+ SLCGP federal funding and $4M state match to conduct vulnerability assessments across local governments, enhance security and access management for 1,600+ state applications, and build statewide cyber resilience.2022-2026

100-Day Strategic Plan

Quick-win initiatives for immediate impact

200-Day Strategic Plan

Strategic initiatives for sustained transformation

Sources

  1. Utah Division of Technology Services (DTS) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  2. DTS Strategic Plan 2025-2026 (accessed 2026-02-23)
  3. DTS Initiatives: MyUtah Portal, AI, HCM, Security, Digital Credentials (accessed 2026-02-23)
  4. 2025 DTS Annual Report (accessed 2026-02-23)
  5. GovTech: Utah CIO Alan Fuller Talks Tech -- 'We Now Have to Level Up' (accessed 2026-02-23)
  6. GovTech Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers 2025: Alan Fuller (accessed 2026-02-23)
  7. StateTech: Utah Advances Policy-First Digital Identity Framework (accessed 2026-02-23)
  8. Utah Office of AI Policy, Regulation, and Innovation (accessed 2026-02-23)
  9. Utah Artificial Intelligence Policy Act (UAIPA) Analysis (accessed 2026-02-23)
  10. Utah DTS: Ranked #1 in Digital Government Services (accessed 2026-02-23)
  11. Adobe 2025 Digital Government Index: State Rankings (accessed 2026-02-23)
  12. Utah BEAD Initial Proposal (~$317.4M allocation) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  13. Broadband Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program (accessed 2026-02-23)
  14. Alan Fuller Congressional Testimony: SLCGP Cybersecurity Grants (accessed 2026-02-23)
  15. NASCIO Executive Leadership 2025-2026 (Fuller as VP) (accessed 2026-02-23)
  16. TechBuzz News: Utah DTS 2025 Strategic Plan Overview (accessed 2026-02-23)
  17. Department of Government Operations Strategic Plan 2025-2026 (accessed 2026-02-23)
  18. Digital States Survey 2024: Utah 'A' Grade (accessed 2026-02-23)