Tight budget, increased demands & rapid technological development – this is how the public sector faces the digital press | GlobalConnect

A Nordic report from GlobalConnect points to a number of challenges for IT managers in the public sector. Many feel that resources are insufficient, regulations are difficult to interpret – and internal competence varies. Almost half state that they do not have sufficient funds to meet the business's safety ambitions.

How well prepared are Nordic authorities and municipalities for a digital future? GlobalConnect's latest IT Insights report is based on a selection of responses from IT managers in the public sector, drawn from a total of 225 in-depth interviews conducted by Demoskop in Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The results point to clear trends: The public sector is facing a difficult balancing act where technological development, security requirements and limited resources often collide.

– Many IT organizations in public sector have a complex mission. They must both manage critical infrastructure and future-proof their operations, often with limited resources and in slow procurement cycles. This creates increased pressure on IT managers, says Anna Granö, EVP B2B at GlobalConnect.

Among the results of the survey are:

• 85 % states that they are continuously replacing obsolete parts of their IT environment
  But at the same time, only 5 % state that they consider their environment to be optimal. Many are unsure whether the overall situation is up to par – which indicates a continued technological lag.
• Every fourth public sector organisation has carried out a full cloud migration
  The cloud has gained a strong foothold in the public sector – to a greater extent than in the private sector according to the survey.
• 45 % says they lack sufficient resources to reach the desired level of security
  Almost half state that budget or expertise – or both – are not sufficient to meet today's and tomorrow's demands.
• One fifth rate staff's cybersecurity knowledge as low
  This points to a need for increased awareness beyond the IT department.
• Uncertainty about new regulations is widespread
  More than one in three IT managers in the public sector state that they do not know whether the NIS2 directive applies to their organization.

– The IT environment has become more complex than ever, with more connected devices and a rapidly changing environment. At the same time, the skills shortage makes it difficult for many public organizations to keep up. This creates a challenging everyday life for many IT managers, says Anna Granö, EVP B2B on GlobalConnect.

The report also shows that many are struggling with how to handle the technology of the future. Fewer than half (45 %) feel well prepared for, for example, AI development and increased data volumes. And when it comes to quantum technology, half of the respondents say they have a poor or very poor understanding of what it means – despite the fact that the technology could eventually affect everything from encryption to information security.

Download the full report here.