New IDC Government Insights Report Reveals Federal Agencies Have Budgeted an Average of 8% of Total FY2012 IT Budgets on S

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Federal government lags behind industry average

FRAMINGHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- IDC Government Insights announced the availability of a new report, Perspective - Benchmarking FY12 U.S. Federal Government IT Security Spending by Agency (Document # GI230760). The study examines the information technology (IT) security budgets set by each U.S. federal agency and reveals how much each organization actually spends on security-focused products and services. Based on the report, federal agencies have budgeted an average of 8% of their total FY12 IT budgets on security-related solutions, significantly lagging behind most industries. A 2007 IDC survey found that organizations, across all industries, spent an average of 19% of their total IT budgets on security solutions. While that number may have spiked in the last few years, 19% is realistic for most organizations. While some mission-critical government networks are state of the art when it comes to IT security, the federal government as a whole lags behind most other industries when it comes to IT security investments.

Government agencies need a clear idea of how much of their IT budget should be spent on security-related IT solutions, especially compared with how much other government organizations spend on security. This report provides an excellent benchmark when evaluating whether an organization is doing what needs to be done to keep systems and information safe.

"For agencies, this report provides a baseline for security spending, and a way to compare themselves against other agencies," says Shawn McCarthy, research director for IDC Government Insights. "For vendors, it is a chance to measure the size of the IT security market in the federal government."

For additional information about this study, or to arrange a one-on-one briefing with Shawn McCarthy please contact Sarah Murray at 781-378-2674 or sarahbethmurray@gmail.com. Reports are available to qualified members of the media. For information on purchasing reports, contact info@idc-gi.com; reporters should email sarahbethmurray@gmail.com

About IDC Government Insights

IDC Government Insights assists government policy, program, and IT leaders, as well as the suppliers who serve them, in making more effective technology decisions by providing accurate, timely, and insightful fact-based research and consulting services. Staffed by senior analysts with decades of government and IT industry experience, our global research analyzes and advises on business and technology issues facing the Federal/Central and local/provincial Governments. International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of market intelligence, advisory services, and events for the information technology market. IDC is a subsidiary of IDG, the world’s leading technology, media, research, and events company. For more information, please visit www.idc-gi.com, email info@idc-gi.com, or call 703-485-8300. Visit the IDC Government Insights Community at http://idc-insights-community.com/government.