Georgia's Digital Overhaul: NTT DATA to Modernize State Services

PLANO, TX – March 03, 2026

NTT DATA has officially commenced a multi-year integrated managed services agreement with the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA), launching a comprehensive initiative to modernize the state's IT infrastructure, bolster cybersecurity defenses, and fundamentally reshape how citizens interact with government services. The partnership aims to create a more resilient, efficient, and user-centric digital government for the state's 11 million residents.

"We are honored to support Georgia Technology Authority’s mission to expand access to advanced technology across the State," said Beth Howen, Executive Managing Director of State, Local and Education at NTT DATA North America. "This partnership marks a significant step in Georgia’s commitment to secure, efficient and user-friendly digital services that meet citizens’ evolving needs."

The collaboration will see the global technology giant provide a suite of cross-functional IT services across various state agencies. The goal is to create a unified service environment that not only enhances public-facing services but also improves internal operational efficiency and spurs innovation.

"This partnership is about more than technology; it’s about transforming how Georgians experience government," stated Shawnzia Thomas, Georgia's State CIO and Executive Director of the GTA. "From faster service delivery to stronger data protection, we’re building a digital foundation that puts citizens first."

A Partnership Built on a Decade of Service

While the announcement marks a new phase, the relationship between NTT DATA and the State of Georgia is not new. The agreement represents the evolution of a long-standing partnership that has spanned nearly a decade. Previously, NTT DATA provided foundational IT support for the state, managing services for tens of thousands of computers and operating systems for state employees.

This new, expanded managed services agreement deepens that collaboration, moving from specific IT support roles to a more integrated and strategic overhaul of the state's entire digital backbone. The prior work, which included managing infrastructure services like mainframes, servers, and the state's service desk, has provided NTT DATA with deep institutional knowledge of Georgia's existing IT landscape. This history positions the company to execute a more ambitious and holistic transformation, building on established trust and a proven track record of service delivery within the state's complex ecosystem.

Tackling Georgia's High-Stakes Digital Challenges

The push for this large-scale modernization comes against a backdrop of increasing digital threats and rising citizen expectations. Georgia, while recognized for its IT maturity with an "A" grade in the national Digital States Survey, is not immune to the challenges facing governments worldwide. The state's digital infrastructure is a critical asset that requires constant fortification against sophisticated cyber threats.

The financial stakes are stark. According to the Georgia Attorney General's Office, residents lost over $300 million to cyber-enabled crimes in the last year alone, a figure that underscores the pervasive risk to both public and private data. High-profile incidents, such as the debilitating 2018 ransomware attack that crippled municipal services in Atlanta, serve as a potent reminder of the potential for disruption. In response, Georgia has adopted a proactive security posture, including a mandate for government agencies to report cyberattacks within one hour of discovery.

This partnership with NTT DATA is a direct investment in mitigating these risks. By centralizing and modernizing IT services, the state aims to create a more robust and defensible security perimeter, ensuring the continuity of government operations and protecting the sensitive data of its citizens.

The Citizen Experience: A New Digital Front Door

For the average Georgian, the success of this project will be measured in convenience, speed, and security. The core promise is a transformation of the citizen experience, moving away from fragmented, often cumbersome processes toward a seamless "unified service environment." This aligns with a broader trend where citizens increasingly expect the same level of digital responsiveness from government agencies that they receive from private companies like Amazon.

The initiative aims to deliver tangible benefits, such as faster processing times for applications and requests, more intuitive online portals, and the ability to conduct more government business from anywhere, on any device. By strengthening data protection, the partnership also seeks to build public trust, assuring citizens that their personal information is secure as services become more digitized.

Underpinning this shift is the strategic integration of emerging technologies. The Georgia Technology Authority has been actively exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence to fuel automation, which can free up state employees from routine tasks to focus on more complex constituent needs. The modernization effort is expected to provide the foundational data infrastructure and cloud capabilities necessary to deploy these AI-driven solutions at scale, leading to more efficient operations and more responsive public services.

A Blueprint for Public Sector Transformation

NTT DATA's agreement with Georgia is a significant development within the highly competitive public sector IT market. State and local governments across the United States are grappling with aging legacy systems and are under pressure to accelerate their digital transformation efforts. This contract solidifies NTT DATA's position as a key player in this space, showcasing its ability to manage large-scale, complex government modernizations.

The company, a $30+ billion global leader, brings an extensive portfolio of experience to the project. It has successfully executed major IT initiatives for a wide range of public entities, from modernizing mission-critical logistics platforms for the U.S. Air Force to implementing a resilient, cloud-based environment for the U.S. Marshals Service across hundreds of locations. This deep public sector expertise, combined with its recognition by industry analysts like Gartner as a leader in digital workplace and network services, was likely a key factor in securing the Georgia contract.

The partnership also reflects key industry trends. The focus on cloud infrastructure, advanced cybersecurity, and AI integration is a model that other states are closely watching. Atlanta's emergence as a major data center hub, with massive investments from cloud providers, creates a powerful local ecosystem to support Georgia's digital ambitions. As governments continue to move away from owning and operating their own hardware, partnerships with global-scale providers like NTT DATA that can deliver secure, scalable cloud and data center services are becoming the new standard for public sector IT. This project could well serve as a blueprint for other states looking to build a resilient and innovative digital future.