Government IT Executive Survey Reveals That Information Security Dominates Federal IT Agenda for 2005
Federal Technology Executives Predict Lance Armstrong in Yellow, Government IT Security Performance and E-Government Funding in Red
Federal and Industry Executives Assert Divergent Opinions on Best Path to Improve Government Contracting in 2005
Orlando, FL - March 2, 2005 - CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G), the government and education subsidiary of CDW Corporation [NASDAQ: CDWC] and leading supplier of brand-name Information Technology (IT) products and services to governments and educators, today released the findings of its Federal IT Executive Survey fielded at IPIC 2005, a key Federal IT conference. Forty-three percent of the Federal survey respondents list information security as their No. 1 priority for 2005, with more than 67 percent rating information security as a top-three concern.
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While information security rates as the top priority, Federal executives are concerned that the government will make significant cyber security progress in the coming year. Forty-nine percent of Federal executive respondents assert that a seventh Tour de France win for Lance Armstrong is more likely than a government-wide "B" grade on the Federal Computer Security Report Card issued by the House Government Reform Committee.
"Chairman Davis and the Office of Management and Budget have clearly identified Federal IT security as a major priority for 2005 - and it is evident that Federal executives recognize the significance of FISMA," said Jim Shanks, president of CDW-G. "Survey responses demonstrate that Federal executives understand that there is no quick-fix solution to this national priority."
Beyond information security, Federal respondents demonstrate a skeptical outlook on the prospect of strong congressional support for e-government initiatives. Pointedly, nearly one quarter of surveyed Federal executives assert that they feel more confident in their chances of winning the lottery than in Federal agencies' chances of securing full funding for e-government initiatives - 23 percent predict that winning the lottery* is more likely than full congressional funding of e-government initiatives. Just 5 percent of Federal executives assert that Congress will fund the entire e-government budget request.
"OMB is focused on continuing to build constituency for e-government," said Karen Evans, administrator of the Office of Electronic Government and Information Technology at the Office of Management and Budget. "These initiatives have already transformed the way citizens relate to their government. Our focus is on leveraging technology to improve service to the citizen, while reducing operating costs."
"It's important for outside organizations to educate Congress about e-government and cyber security. Few members - maybe 10 out of 535 - fully understand the importance of FISMA," said Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis. "If you don't have constituent interest in this area, there are few incentives for members to get involved until there is some downside: either a cyber Pearl Harbor, companies lose money, or people get hurt."
The 79 Federal and 158 industry IT respondents assert parallel priorities in all areas of the survey, with the exception of recommendations on how to improve government contracting in the coming year. Thirty-three percent of Federal executives cite increasing the number of contracting officers as the best path forward, while only 15 percent of industry respondents recommend this approach. In contrast, 18 percent of industry respondents assert that the best path forward is through increased outsourcing, while only 5 percent of Federal respondents select increased outsourcing as the best path forward.
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A wholly owned subsidiary of CDW Corporation (NASDAQ: CDWC), a FORTUNE 500 company, CDW Government (CDW-G) is a trusted technology advisor to federal, state and local government agencies, as well as to educational institutions at all levels. CDW-G offers best-in-class technology products and services from top-name brands such as APC, Cisco, HP, IBM, Microsoft, Sony, Symantec, Toshiba and ViewSonic. For more information about CDW-G product offerings, procurement options, service and solutions call 1.800.863.4239, or visit the CDW-G Web site at CDWG.com.
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*The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 135,145,920. The odds of winning Powerball are 1 in 120,526,770.
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