Ohio, Michigan score well on CDW-G IT security survey
Connecting state and local government leaders
An assessment of IT security spending reveals common technology investment trends among the most technology-active state and local governments.
Ohio spent more in the past five years on IT products related to network and security hardware, security software, and antivirus, anti-spyware and anti-spam software than any other state, according to a study released today by CDW Government Inc.
The State and Local Government Technology Investment Curve is an assessment of state and local government IT spending for all 50 states, as well as city- and county-level investments since 2000, according to CDW-G, a unit of CDW Corp. of Vernon Hills, Ill.
The study indexes core IT purchases of network and security hardware, security software, and antivirus, anti-spyware and anti-spam software. Five states spent between 31 percent and 76 percent more than the average.
Ohio leads in each of the three categories. Michigan finished second, followed by Wisconsin, Washington and Massachusetts.
Other states that scored well are Indiana, California, Oregon, New York, Florida, Connecticut and Illinois.
'Security investments are a key component of each agency's security profile,' said Chris Rother, CDW-G vice president for state and local sales. 'But investments alone do not ensure successful security results.'
Investment in IT security is one component of the people, processes and technologies required to maintain a robust security profile, according to CDW-G.
Interviews by CDW-G with officials in the leading states identified some common characteristics, including:
- Strong and consistent state-level leadership over the entire five-year period
- County and city government leadership supporting and developing major initiatives
- Multiple, strong academic programs in information assurance education
- Significant statewide user groups/associations to provide critical mass and education
- Early starts, with significant information security programs operating as early as 1997
- IT budget support and prioritization across city, county and state agencies.
Ethan Butterfield is a staff writer forsister publication,Washington Technology
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