The N.C. Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) has spent the past decade transforming how state government serves its people – through technology, strategy and a relentless commitment to innovation. What began in 2015 as a bold effort to consolidate IT services and improve efficiency has evolved into a statewide movement to modernize infrastructure, drive a data-informed government and close North Carolina’s digital divide.
As NCDIT celebrates its 10th anniversary on September 18, 2025, this timeline recognizes a decade of progress, partnership and public service as we continue to lead North Carolina into a smarter, safer and more connected future.
2015: A Bold Beginning
- The General Assembly created NCDIT in 2015, elevating IT oversight to a Cabinet-level agency and consolidating the former Office of Information Technology Services. This restructuring empowered the State Chief Information Officer with authority over IT budgets, infrastructure and interagency transfers – bringing strategic cohesion to how technology and cybersecurity were managed across the executive branch.
2016: Digital Innovations
- With the launch of NC HealthConnex, NCDIT’s newly established N.C. Health Information Exchange Authority transitioned North Carolina’s health data exchange to state management – creating a unified platform that empowers providers to efficiently share patient information.
- NCDIT introduced Digital Commons, migrating agency websites onto a common, accessible platform and reducing cybersecurity risks.
- The Government Data Analytics Center (GDAC) enabled data-driven decision-making across state government with tools such as CLJEADS and NC FACTS.
2017: Advancing Enterprise Geospatial Capabilities
- The Center for Geographic Information and Analysis and the Geographic Information Coordinating Council, part of NCDIT and its predecessor agencies since 2003, continued to advance North Carolina’s enterprise geospatial infrastructure and data-driven decision-making in 2017.
- Key achievements included completing a key phase of the Statewide Orthoimagery Program, expanding the NC Parcels Program, enhancing NC OneMap with new data and features and developing GIS data standards to support the rollout of Next Generation 911.
2018: Connecting North Carolina
- The Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) grant program launched this year, expanding broadband infrastructure in unserved areas with state funding.
- Durham County led the way in emergency response by becoming the nation’s first 911 center in the country to implement Next Generation 911, an IP-based emergency communications network with features like text-to-911 and location-based call routing.
- This year also included the adoption of ServiceNow as the department’s enterprise IT Service Management platform.
2019: Expanding Cybersecurity
- This year marked the expansion of NCDIT’s collaborative cybersecurity efforts beyond state agencies to include local governments, schools, universities and other public-sector partners.
- The Government Data Analytics Center also launched NC eLink, which connects data across agencies for deeper insights while ensuring privacy.
2020: The Year of Resilience
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, NCDIT provided critical continuity support by ensuring service reliability, enabling remote work for tens of thousands of employees, bolstering cybersecurity defenses, implementing telehealth in the state’s correctional facilities and delivering devices to equip school buses as mobile hotspots for students.
- The N.C. Health Information Exchange Authority and Government Data Analytics Center supported the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services’ pandemic response, linking COVID-19 labs with vaccines and creating data-driven dashboards for Medicaid to understand the trajectory of the disease within their vulnerable populations.
- NCDIT launched its 2021–2023 strategic plan, emphasizing resilience, digital transformation and enterprise alignment.
- The service broker model was introduced as a strategic approach to streamline and standardize IT services across state agencies, with NCDIT acting as an intermediary that connects agencies with optimized, cost-effective technology solutions from vendors.
- Implementation of the Application Portfolio Management system provided unprecedented visibility into statewide applications and their associated costs.
2021: Leadership Firsts
- The Government Data Analytics Center broadened its scope under the leadership of the first chief data officer, supporting initiatives in education, workforce, health care and fraud prevention.
- The state’s chief risk officer advanced a statewide framework for managing information risk.
- The state’s first chief privacy officer established a statewide privacy program to manage risk, ensure compliance with privacy laws and protect the interests of residents, businesses and visitors.
- The NCDIT Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity and Office of Digital Opportunity were established to create a connected, resilient and prosperous state.
2022: Strengthening Cybersecurity, Expanding Insights
- The N.C. Joint Cybersecurity Task Force was established to strengthen cybersecurity and incident response for state and local governments by bringing together state, federal and local partners.
- NCDIT’s Data Division expanded its ability to provide data insights for the education and workforce outcomes with the team and board supporting the North Carolina Longitudinal Data System.
- NCDIT launched the NCID Citizen Identity Project to modernize identity management, boosting security and enabling within state government.
2023: Enhancing Statewide IT Procurement, Student Investment and Broadband Expansion
- NCDIT released a new strategic plan focused on cybersecurity, data governance and broadband.
- The department also launched initiatives to make the statewide IT procurement process more efficient and transparent.
- The department launched new internship and apprenticeship programs aimed at building a talent pipeline from universities and community colleges.
- NCDIT advanced its broadband expansion strategy by integrating federal geospatial data to provide granular details on remaining unserved locations for the state’s high-speed internet expansion programs.
- The department held a statewide listening tour to collect feedback on its plans to drive economic and workforce development by enabling all North Carolinians to fully participate in the digital economy through access to high-speed internet, computers and digital literacy.
2024: Completing Next Generation 911 and Embracing AI
- North Carolina completed the statewide transition to Next Generation 911. This system performed as designed following Hurricane Helene, enabling calls to be rerouted from impacted areas to 911 centers not affected by the storm.
- The department launched the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence Framework, establishing guiding principles for AI use across state government and created an interagency AI Work Group to coordinate AI policy and implementation and initiated pilot projects using generative AI.
- NCDIT officially renamed its Data Division to the Enterprise Data Office.
2025 (to date): Looking to the Future
- NCDIT is leading North Carolina’s AI transformation with the launch of the AI Accelerator, a statewide hub to test and scale AI solutions to the state’s real-world challenges. The NCDIT Secretary co-chairs the new AI Leadership Council, guiding state strategy and policy to drive responsible AI use.
- A notable highlight is the launch of a cybersecurity internship program in collaboration with the Carolina Cyber Network and its participating community colleges.
- Thanks to tools such as generative AI, NCDIT made steady progress toward the goal to complete all statewide IT procurements within 90 days.
- The N.C. Longitudinal Data System’s Data Request Service opened and began receiving requests for custom, cross-sector datasets.
- The Division of Broadband and Digital Opportunity has awarded $722 million in federal funding to expand access to broadband for 255,000 homes and businesses, provide computers and deliver online skills training, and will continue to distribute awards to connect 100% of the state by 2030.