Security, budgets top agency IT concerns

Information technology security and IT budget constraints are the top concerns for federal IT officials, according to a survey that ScienceLogic LLC conducted at the FOSE trade show held in Washington, D.C., in March.

The Reston, Va.,-based company surveyed 113 agency IT administrators and chief information officers during the course of the show. Asked to rank the main things they worry about, 82 percent said IT security, 75 percent noted budget restrictions, while only 42 percent said that dealing with new technology is a concern.

Virtualization management was the highest-ranking technology that the respondents said was extremely important for their departments. More than 90 percent said it was extremely important, and 70 percent are planning to implement virtualization management within the next year.

ScienceLogic specializes in IT management technologies.

"Server virtualization is a critical tool for government agencies to consolidate hardware assets and cut costs," said David Link, chief executive officer and founder of ScienceLogic. "But agencies need to keep in mind that virtualization actually increases the strain on systems and hardware by running close to full capacity and requires a powerful and reliable management solution to provide detailed metrics on both physical and virtual server performance and availability."

The company also asked respondents whether they are ready to implement IPv6, the next-generation Internet technology. Only 20 percent said their agencies will be ready in time for the June 2008 deadline that the Office of Management and Budget established. A full 25 percent said they are sure their agencies will not be ready in time.