Cybersecurity and Procurement: Spotlight on This Growing Industry

Published: May 07, 2019

SLED Market AnalysisContracting TrendsCybersecurityDigital GovernmentGeneral Government ServicesInformation TechnologyJustice/Public Safety & Homeland SecurityOpportunitiesPublic Sector

Learn more about how cybersecurity has become a major procurement trend in Deltek’s "10 Hotspots in State & Local Government Contracting for 2019."

As state and local governments become increasingly reliant on technology, they have also made themselves more vulnerable to cyber attacks. Threats like phishing and ransomware have become more common, compromising the sensitive information handled by state and local governments. Last year, a compromised email account within the Minnesota Department of Human Services may have exposed the personal information of as many as 11,000 people. In California, days before the launch of the new “motor voter” registration program, officials from the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles noticed their computer network was trying to connect to Internet servers in Croatia. More recently, a ransomware attack at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport disabled information boards throughout the airport for a week. These are just a few examples of the many incidents that have made cybersecurity a top priority for government officials across the U.S.

As a top concern for governments, cybersecurity has been at the forefront of many state and local procurement agendas. In a recent report on procurement trends for 2019, Deltek highlights the rapid growth of cybersecurity-related solicitations. Between 2017 and 2018, bids for cybersecurity services, network security, and security software increased by 41%, or an increase of nearly 300 bids. For 2019, experts are predicting continued growth in this area, which will have major business implications for contractors. “This hotspot is directly relevant to technology firms, but cybersecurity is also relevant to non-tech firms that are expected to follow changing standards and compliance requirements,” Deltek’s report emphasizes. As such, qualified vendors of various backgrounds should be on the lookout for increased solicitations related to cybersecurity.

Interested in learning more about cybersecurity and other major procurement trends? Check out Deltek’s report on the 10 Hotspots in State & Local Government Contracting for 2019.