A major overhaul of Iowa’s technology infrastructure began Tuesday, as Gov. Kim Reynolds announced the state will move executive branch data to a cloud environment operated by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and shift daily IT operations to Cognizant Government Solutions.
The move to a managed service model is the next stage of a broader transformation that began with the state’s IT consolidation initiative in October 2023. The combined changes, the governor’s office said, are expected to save taxpayers more than $525 million over 10 years while modernizing key IT systems supporting state government.
Under the partnership, AWS will be responsible for migrating data currently housed in dozens of state data centers and thousands of physical servers. Once the process is complete, AWS will host and maintain the information within its cloud platform.
Cognizant Government Solutions will take over the state’s daily technology operations. Those responsibilities will include managing servers, networks and systems that support state IT services, providing on-site technical assistance to agencies and employees, and delivering “first line” support to workers seeking IT help.
In a statement, Reynolds talked about how the work initially took shape.
“In 2022, I directed the first comprehensive review of state government in 40 years, and since then, my administration has been focused on continuously improving government efficiency and effectiveness,” Reynolds said.
Following completion of the consolidation initiative, the governor said, “we’re able to take a critical step forward to modernize the state’s legacy data systems.”
Moving government data into the cloud, she said, will allow Iowa to better protect information, improve the reliability of public services and adapt more quickly as demands on government change. The shift will also change how the state pays for technology, she said, replacing “large, upfront capital expenditures” with scalable services that can support more sustainable operations.
The transition will impact the state’s technology workforce. According to the news release, roughly 200 employees currently working in the Department of Management’s Division of Information Technology (DoIT), who provide these services are expected to receive “individualized, competitive job offers” from Cognizant later this month. Cognizant is slated to begin delivering these services to the state Aug. 3; DoIT will begin working with both partners immediately.