Renewed CIO Framework for a Strong Digital Government as of January 1, 2026

As of January 1, 2026, the new CIO Framework for the National Government 2025 will come into effect. The Council of Ministers approved this on the proposal of State Secretary Van Marum of the Ministry of Interior and Kingdom Relations. This decision is an important step in the digital transformation of the government, aiming to deploy digitalization more effectively, efficiently, and responsibly.

The CIO framework ensures collaboration and coordination among all ministries in the field of ICT and information provision. Each ministry has a Chief Information Officer (CIO) responsible for digitalization policy and information systems within their own department. Through better coordination, the national government can work more efficiently, be more transparent, and respond faster to new challenges. The CIO council, led by the CIO of the national government, is the main consultative body. Here, CIOs from departments and some larger public service providers make decisions on government-wide digitalization issues, such as cloud policy and the responsible use of generative AI by the government.

Innovations in the Framework

The 2021 CIO framework included an agreement to evaluate the framework every three years. Based on evaluations in 2024 by the Government Audit Service (ADR) and the ICT Assessment Advisory Board (AcICT), the framework has now been revised in close consultation with all departments and experts. Several innovations have been implemented based on these evaluations.

To secure strategic knowledge about digitalization at the highest level, new specialist roles have been added to the framework alongside the existing roles of CIO and CISO (Chief Information Security Officer): Chief Privacy Officer (CPO), Chief Data Officer (CDO), and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). These are subject matter experts who act as advisors under the departmental CIO. Additionally, the role of the CIO for the Caribbean Netherlands National Service (CIO RCN) has been formally established as part of the framework.

Strengthened Position of the National CIO

The National CIO now has explicit powers to establish binding frameworks. This means the National CIO can set and monitor rules, standards, and guidelines for the information systems of all ministries. The CIOs have agreed that if no consensus is reached in the CIO council, the National CIO can make a decision to increase decisiveness.

Solid Information Management

The new framework sets clear tasks to improve the quality of ICT systems. Departmental CIOs must ensure interoperability. This means information systems must communicate and cooperate well, especially when exchanging data and connecting to common government-wide facilities. CIOs must also ensure solid information management. This is essential to ensure that all information is preserved sustainably, findable, accurate, and reliable.

Focus

Through better governance, more focus on innovation, and a more efficient government, departments and public service providers can perform their societal tasks more effectively. CIOs get more room for strategic themes, such as increasing digital autonomy and leveraging technological innovations. With the new roles in the framework, strategic ICT knowledge is better safeguarded.

The CIO framework will continue to develop in the future to respond to technological changes. This way, the government remains digitally agile and efficient in the future.