As challenging as it can be to implement exciting technologies within the complex landscape of the public sector, it’s a challenge that Megan Stokes is unafraid to tackle. Stokes is the Director of Cloud Security and Strategy, working in the Office of Cybersecurity for the State of Missouri. She’s been with the State of Missouri for just over a decade, and her role involves helping lead efforts across multiple agencies in a multi-cloud environment. It’s varied, and fast-paced – and Stokes thrives on that.
“I have the opportunity to guide agencies through best practices, helping them access the right resources, the right expertise, and make sure that the solutions they’re building on are really secure and well architected going forward,” she explains. “That includes a focus on risk management, access control, optimisation, governance and compliance, and long-term strategy. There’s always something new to think through, and that keeps the role really exciting and engaging. There’s always lots of work to be done.”
Adopting cloud technology
Stokes’s passion for cloud technology has been a driving force in the way the State of Missouri has adopted cloud security. As soon as cloud came onto the organisation’s radar, the State of Missouri started adopting it to meet its needs. The aim, at the time, was to meet immediate needs rather than a long-term strategy. It was new, and exciting, and everyone was ready to jump in feet-first.
“That early adoption was about spinning up services quickly,” says Stokes. “At that time, there were no formal governance frameworks or structured processes in place yet. Recognising that need, the State of Missouri leadership made the decision to establish a dedicated cloud security function, which is when I had the opportunity to step into that role. From there, we’ve focused heavily on building the foundational elements that have been missing. This means governance frameworks, security standards, and best practices, to guide secure and scalable growth and ensure we’re on the right path.”
Mindful adoption
The way technology is being adopted in the public sector tends to be very different to how it’s used in the private sector. Because of this, the State of Missouri is mindful of how it leverages new technologies. However, some technologies are hot topics regardless of sector.
“A big area of focus is AI,” says Stokes. “There’s so much potential to transform how we deliver services, automate processes, and improve our decision-making. It allows us to predict needs before they even arrive. However, AI is still emerging and in the public sector, we carry this added layer of responsibility. We’re not just implementing tech because it’s exciting. We are stewards of public trust, and that means a great deal to us. It means we have to balance innovation with care, making sure that anything we adopt protects the citizens and their data, improves outcomes, and is sustainable in the long-term. It’s not necessarily about chasing those trends – it’s about doing what’s right for the people we serve.”
