Ensuring the quality and
integrity of data
and email messages, along with the need to improve continuity of
operations and consolidate IT infrastructures underscored a broadening
array of tech-related priorities in the latest Government Leadership
survey.
In 2007, survey respondents were ultimately most singularly focused on
security, encompassing everything from hardware to software to data and
mobile devices. The Fall 2007 respondents, for example,
ranked
everything from identity management to disaster recovery, storage management and COOP as top
priorities.
While COOP and wireless/mobile security still ranked high among
government executives in the Spring 2008 online survey, the latest
Government Leadership survey responses indicate that the focus may be
shifting toward more transformational improvements such as the need to
purchase only industry standard hardware and the growth of
collaboration tools for information sharing, in addition to maintaining
strong security.
Nevertheless, over half (56% of respondents) still plan to purchase
hardware and software to help them adhere to federal regulatory
mandates and related security concerns. The top hardware priorities are
surveillance systems, protection for mobile devices and deploying
identity management hardware such as ‘smart cards.’
Meanwhile, top software-related solutions include maintaining data
integrity and fighting insider threats, as well as disaster
recovery, identity and access management software. One survey
respondent, John Traylor, Technical Chief for the Army’s PEO
Aviation/PM Air Traffic Control organization stressed that security,
and especially encryption mechanisms, are of paramount importance due
to the strong regulatory requirements the Army must abide by. Everything from identity
management to access management to wireless security and smart cards
tops Traylor’s list of priorities in the latest survey.
As a group, C-level government executives tend to worry less about
technology-related challenges than their middle management peers,
though top level managers tend to worry more about oversight
challenges. This may reflect their ability to take a longer term view
on pressing day-to-day challenges, while focusing instead on
overarching concerns that impact agency mission goals.
One pressing issue the survey respondents mentioned repeatedly with
regard to technological priorities related to budget concerns. The
struggle to meet regulatory compliance goals and mission-related
requirements within the confines of existing budgets continues to be a
major stumbling block for many government organizations.
Interestingly, however, while Enterprise Architecture initiatives may
be ‘top of mind’ for members of the Federal CIO
Council,
Traylor said that while there has been quite a deal of discussion on
this topic, so far not much actual progress has been made on his
organization’s Enterprise Architecture goals so far.
Most of the federal IT executives surveyed are more worried about
immediate projects and meeting the needs of citizens now. Incorporating
identity and access management solutions, such as smart card technology
for use on the battlefield, and the migration from Microsoft XP to Vista, will be top
priorities for Traylor’s organization this year. PEO Aviation
develops and deploys helicopters for the Army.
While
technologies such as virtualization, IPv6, Web 2.0 and green computing
have received much publicity in the last year, based on survey results,
most government executives indicated that none of these technological
solutions will top their list of priorities anytime soon.
Security-related solutions will remain a top priority for the
Army’s PEO Aviation organization for the foreseeable future,
said
Traylor, who added that virtualization is still a concept in its
infancy. “We won’t be seriously considering
virtualization
until 2020 and beyond,” he said. This is because,
as he
explained, while the technologies may be available to
“virtualize
operations, the idea of getting on an aircraft without a pilot
isn’t likely to be readily accepted for many years to
come.”
Instead, Traylor said wireless security tops the list of priorities
both now and in the future as there is still much concern about
ensuring the security of data sent wirelessly across the battlefield.
“The Army still hasn’t sanctioned any of the
wireless
security solutions available, and we can’t field a solution
for
our users because literally everything must be encrypted,” he
explained, including such benign information such as wind speeds and
temperature readings. “The best way for commercial technology
suppliers to support our efforts is to address the enormous,
overwhelming security requirements that we must contend with on a daily
basis,” he added.
In
the next year or two, survey respondents said they expect to be
purchasing next generation technologies, such as collaboration tools
and standards- based solutions. Indeed, 45% of respondents plan to
invest in information-sharing solutions in the next six months,
including collaboration tools and enterprise architecture software.
“Working with other agencies and sharing information is
crucial,” said Gary Washington, IT Program Manager for the
new
National Security Professionals Development Integration Office, an
inter-agency organization under the OMB’s umbrella
that’s
committed to developing recruiting and training mechanisms to certify,
train and retain national security professionals. The NSPD Program was
created in response to Executive Order 13434, signed in May 2007, which
states that in order "to enhance the national security of the United
States, including preventing, protecting against, responding to and
recovering from natural and manmade disasters, such as acts of
terrorism, it is the policy of the United States to promote the
education, training, and experience of current and future professionals
in national security positions in executive departments and agencies."
National security professionals are those personnel responsible for
developing strategies, creating plans to implement and executing a
common mission in direct support of U.S. national security objectives.
“We’re working hard today to try to position government to do better,”
especially in terms of training security professionals and sharing
information across agencies in the future, Washington explained.
Finally, when survey respondents were asked to comment on any
additional tech-related challenges they face, those respondents
mentioned a wide variety of issues, ranging from internal cultural
challenges, along with a need to implement better portfolio management
(PM) to handle developmental projects in a portfolio context, along
with a need to conduct realistic and accurate planning, and the need to
lower costs whenever possible. One comment even addressed the need for
greater clarity with regard to records retention and the challenges
involved in securely maintaining data. “Laws pertaining to retention of digital imaging in surveillance and security
situations, along with lengthy retention periods of over one year are
impacting our existing data storage subsystems. Unless this can be
somehow coordinated across large agencies, storage [will continue to
grow] very expensive, and is of questionable value.”
What’s Changed Since
the Last Survey
Management
and technical imperatives have held relatively steady since
the survey conducted last Fall. Data quality management, continuity of
operations, wireless and mobile security, IT consolidation and email
management topped the list of tech-related priorities in the May 2008
survey. Meanwhile, Fall 2007 respondents said they were most concerned
about recruitment and retention, data security, operational efficiency
and budget, which is often mentioned in the latest survey’s
responses and/or comments as well.
In the next two years, Spring 2008 survey respondents said increasing
operational efficiency, recruitment and retention of key personnel,
COOP, project management and increasing mobility and flexible work
arrangements would continue to be most important to government
organizations. Fall 2007 respondents expected continued concern with
data security, recruitment and retention, operational efficiency, COOP
and information sharing.
Top management concerns in the Fall 2007 study included infrastructure
and software security, COOP, data quality management and wireless
security concerns. Operational efficiency, recruitment concerns and
COOP made the top five list of management priorities in May’s
survey, along with project management and the need to improve mobility
for government workers.
The information graphic beside this article highlights what has changed
between the Government Leadership survey in November 2007 and the most
recent survey in May 2008.
While
technologies such as virtualization, IPv6, Web 2.0 and green computing
have received much publicity in the last year, based on survey results,
most government executives indicated that none of these technological
solutions will top their list of priorities anytime soon.
Security-related solutions will remain a top priority for the
Army’s PEO Aviation organization for the foreseeable future,
said
Traylor, who added that virtualization is still a concept in its
infancy. “We won’t be seriously considering
virtualization
until 2020 and beyond,” he said. This is because,
as he
explained, while the technologies may be available to
“virtualize
operations, the idea of getting on an aircraft without a pilot
isn’t likely to be readily accepted for many years to
come.”
In
the next year or two, survey respondents said they expect to be
purchasing next generation technologies, such as collaboration tools
and standards- based solutions. Indeed, 45% of respondents plan to
invest in information-sharing solutions in the next six months,
including collaboration tools and enterprise architecture software.
“Working with other agencies and sharing information is
crucial,” said Gary Washington, IT Program Manager for the
new
National Security Professionals Development Integration Office, an
inter-agency organization under the OMB’s umbrella
that’s
committed to developing recruiting and training mechanisms to certify,
train and retain national security professionals. The NSPD Program was
created in response to Executive Order 13434, signed in May 2007, which
states that in order "to enhance the national security of the United
States, including preventing, protecting against, responding to and
recovering from natural and manmade disasters, such as acts of
terrorism, it is the policy of the United States to promote the
education, training, and experience of current and future professionals
in national security positions in executive departments and agencies." 
Management
and technical imperatives have held relatively steady since
the survey conducted last Fall. Data quality management, continuity of
operations, wireless and mobile security, IT consolidation and email
management topped the list of tech-related priorities in the May 2008
survey. Meanwhile, Fall 2007 respondents said they were most concerned
about recruitment and retention, data security, operational efficiency
and budget, which is often mentioned in the latest survey’s
responses and/or comments as well.
