Cybersecurity spending is expected to rise by at least a third as the government seeks to ward off attacks of both public and private corporate networks. The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense will get the lion's share of the security spending.
For companies not in the cybersecurity business, the only way to extract sizable growth from federal IT spending this year will be to wrestle contracts away from rivals.
Although the U.S. government is the largest purchaser of hardware, software and IT services in the world, President Obama's latest budget proposal shows that -- with one notable exception -- selling technology to the feds this year is unlikely to be a growth business.
The budget calls for federal IT spending to rise just 1.3% this year, to $79.5 billion, as the government moves to slash its number of data centers by 40% by 2015. The growth figure follows a miniscule increase during the past fiscal year and, if adopted, will mean that IT spending will rise less than 2% in aggregate during the past two federal budget cycles.
(Information Week)
The Path to Management (FINS)
IT workers who want to move into management positions should take on extra work, practice communications skills and trade tech jargon for an understanding of business needs, according to a career expert.
Apple's Suicide Prevention Trip to China (WSJ)
Apple sent COO Tim Cook to a factory in Shenzhen, China last June to advise iPhone maker Foxconn after the contract manufacturer was hit by a wave of worker suicides.
NYC's New Digital Chief Emails It in (FINS)
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg picked 27-year-old Rachel Sterne to be the city's first chief digital officer. She told us how she plans to connect local citizens more closely to their government – all via email.
Silicon Valley Crawling Back (Bloomberg)
Silicon Valley added more than 12,000 jobs last year, but employment is still no higher than 2004 levels, as hiring at tech companies was offset by layoffs in the public sector, a new report showed.
Secure in San Francisco (CRN)
Security companies will be showing off the latest in software and hardware in San Francisco this week at the largest U.S. security conference. Here's a look at 25 new products.
Cisco Joins the Cloud Party (CRN)
Cisco Systems said it plans to launch a new marketing effort to help its distribution partners sell more gear as part of its cloud computing push.
Microsoft's Mobile Software Plans (GigaOM)
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, fresh off his agreement to supply Windows Phone mobile software to Nokia, said the software would get a host of new features later this year, including a faster browser and closer integration with Twitter.
Google Goes All Human (Mashable)
Google is asking users of its Chrome browser to help filter out low-quality search results from so-called content farms amid criticism that its algorithm isn't up to the task.
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