Breaches and policy initiatives will help drive federal IT security spending to $7.4 billion in 2012, a 25 percent increase compared to 2007, according to a study released by Reston, Va.-based research firm Input. Most of those dollars will go to security operations, as agencies spend $5.4 billion to protect their networks and data systems.
The past year brought a number of reports of lost and stolen data from federal agencies. That will spur increased spending on security training and education, as well components such as firewalls, vulnerability scanning, intrusion detection/prevention software, anti-virus software, managed security services and computer forensics, according to the report.
Mandates relating to Federal Information Security Management Act, IPv6 and the HSPD-12 secure identification cards will lead to $439 million in spending on identity and access management, including technologies for two and three-factor authentication.
"Identity management and access will be a top priority," says Alan Bechara, president of Chantilly, Va.-based PC Mall Gov. The solution provider was recently honored by Sun Microsystems for 156 percent year-over-year growth in product sales. Its Sun storage business grew 300 percent, thanks largely to related security services.
"Digitization of data will be just as important -- the need for record keeping, record management, archiving. Is that security? Of course -- bits and bytes security," Bechara said. "The threat is very real, and I don't think a politician in his right mind will question spending. The environment is still ripe."
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Public Display: Hot Scenes From XChange Public Sector Hundreds of VARs, integrators, vendors and analysts descended on the Sawgrass Marriott in Jacksonville, Fla., last week for XChange Public Sector. Here's a look at what you missed if you weren't there, from heated health-care and government discussion to just plain heat. |
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10 Burning Questions For The Public Sector Channel As XChange Public Sector kicks off in Jacksonville June 12, here's a look at some of the most pressing issues for public sector VARs and integrators, from cybersecurity and firm-fixed-price contracts to green technology and small business priorities. |
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