Fifty-Seven Percent of Federal IT Decision-Makers Feel Their Current Data Infrastructure is Being Overwhelmed by Increasing Data Volumes
ALEXANDRIA, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Ninety-nine percent of Federal IT decision-makers say their agencies have put a greater emphasis on leveraging data to drive decision-making and achieve mission goals in the past year, according to the “Federal Data Maturity Report: Optimizing Storage, Operations, and Insights.” This comprehensive study from MeriTalk, in collaboration with Hitachi Vantara Federal, examines data storage, infrastructure challenges, modern storage solutions adoption, and insights within Federal agencies.
The report surveyed 150 Federal IT decision-makers and sheds light on the challenges and opportunities facing agencies as they navigate the complex landscape of data management in an era of exponential data growth and technological advancement. The report reveals that while Federal agencies increasingly prioritize data-driven decision-making, data maturity levels still lag, with just 41 percent of respondents describing their data management as “advanced” and less than one-third rating their organization’s ability to use data-driven insights an “A.”
Over half of Federal IT leaders express concerns about their current data infrastructure’s ability to cope with increasing data volumes, with 62 percent worried about scalability issues in the future. Complexities, security vulnerabilities, and outdated technology are cited as the top infrastructure challenges, underscoring the urgent need for modernization efforts.
“The more that data collection continues to grow exponentially, so will the need for optimizing storage, operations, and extracting actionable insights,” said Gary Hix, chief technology officer at Hitachi Vantara Federal. “These things are no longer optional. They are mission-critical imperatives and it’s eye-opening for this research to provide a clear roadmap reflecting those facts.”
Federal IT leaders have high expectations of their data storage transformation and future technological advancements. The top three prioritizations for data storage and operations are upgrading data storage infrastructure, investing in advanced analytics tools, and enhancing cybersecurity measures to optimize data operations. Sixty-three percent say the integration of modern data capabilities will heavily impact their organization’s ability to forecast and plan for future challenges over the next three years.
The report uncovers actionable recommendations for Federal agencies, including upgrading data storage infrastructure by investing in cutting-edge solutions that provide agility, scalability, resiliency, and seamless integration with emerging capabilities like AI/ML as they work to keep pace with escalating data volumes and rapidly evolving technology needs. Agencies should also boost data security and resilience measures by implementing robust access controls, encryption, automated threat detection, and backup and recovery capabilities to maximize resilience, according to the report.
The report is based on a survey of 150 Federal IT decision-makers conducted in March and April 2024. The quantitative research has a margin of error of ±6.93% at a 95 percent confidence level. To review the full findings, visit: https://www.meritalk.com/study/optimizing-storage-operations-and-insights/.
About MeriTalk
The voice of tomorrow’s government today, MeriTalk is a public-private partnership focused on improving the outcomes of government IT. Our award-winning editorial team and world-class events and research staff produce unmatched news, analysis, and insight. The goal: a more efficient, responsive, and citizen-centric government. MeriTalk connects with an audience of 160,000 Federal community contacts. For more information, visit www.MeriTalk.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter/X, @MeriTalk. MeriTalk is a 300Brand organization.
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