5x5x5: The State Agency Leader’s Guide to Data-Centric Security

State government agencies — from the Department of Justice (DOJ) to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Revenue (DOR) and beyond — operate in a highly complex and interconnected environment, with a patchwork of software, tools, and workflows that must coexist in order to deliver critical services. State agencies must routinely collaborate and share sensitive constituent information, including Criminal Justice Information (CJI), Protected Health Information (PHI), and tax records, both internally and externally.

Yet, agency cybersecurity leaders face a persistent reality: They must execute this mission across a deeply fragmented, decentralized IT ecosystem, without compromising sensitive data. Different state departments, local municipalities, and third-party contractors often run entirely disconnected security systems, leaving agency data vulnerable the moment it crosses the perimeter.

Statewide IT consolidation to "whole of state" security remains a worthy long-term goal, but agency leaders cannot afford to wait years for unified architecture. They need practical, deployable solutions now. This white paper examines the five data-sharing challenges that agency leaders most commonly encounter: Decentralization, Mismatched Toolsets, Lack of Visibility, Lack of Compliance, and Lack of Security. It will explore how a shift to data-centric security, rather than perimeter-centric security alone, can empower individual agencies to protect their data, meet compliance obligations, and serve constituents securely — regardless of the systems their partners use. 

Download the whitepaper to explore the five core challenges, five success stories, and five steps for state agency leaders to protect sensitive data beyond the perimeter.