Tips To Key In On Government Spending On IT

Although the U.S. economy faces an uncertain future, the federal government is likely to keep on spending big on technology, according to a panel organized and moderated by Everything Channel Industry Editor Craig Zarley at the FOSE Conference and Exposition, the government IT exposition in Washington, D.C.

Participants included representatives of Lockheed Martin Corp., Bethesda, Md.; Chantilly, Va.-based solution provider GTSI Corp.; systems integrator EDS Corp., Plano, Texas; and solution provider SRA International Inc., Fairfax, Va. The panel discussed opportunities in the federal market and discussed the implication of government IT spending in an election year. Here are some of the top trends discussed.

1. Global Opportunities
In developing countries on the African continent and around the world, federal aid programs and nation-building initiatives provide a host of opportunities for solution providers. "We're looking for the reach of companies that go beyond U.S. borders," said Paul Mrochinski, director of U.S. Government Alliances & Partners, EDS. "We've set up communities of practice where we can and have taken small-business organizations into international opportunities because of the capabilities they have."

Mac DeShazer, Lockheed Martin's senior manager and small- business liaison, said many opportunities exist through the recent creation of Africa Command (AFRICOM) to address the needs of African countries. Such opportunities include putting communications systems in place for dealing with malaria, tuberculosis and HIV. Although he said he recognizes the difficulty and risk companies take when deciding to do business in countries with limited access to quality infrastructure and sufficient power capacity, companies that go "the last mile" are often rewarded with a less tangible, but morally empowering, dividend--the satisfaction of humanitarian action. "It feels great to be able to help these countries," DeShazer said.

2. Security Staying Strong
The demand for cybersecurity remains strong in the federal market, said Mike Fox, senior vice president of marketing and sales for SRA International. "The need for information security professionals is at an all-time high," he said. "It's virtually impossible to fill all the positions needed." Threats from viruses, hackers and attacks on infrastructure require constant attention, and as trends like virtualization continue, the need for federal security solutions is expected to remain vigorous. "I agree it's a huge area," Mrochinski said, pointing to ID management as another security area that will grow along with access management. "It's something we are looking to expand from a federal government opportunity into the state and local space as well."

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