Public sector IT faces budgetary hurdles, says survey

New research from SolarWinds reveals significant global budgetary challenges public sector IT professionals face.

According to the survey, only 18% of public-sector IT professionals feel their annual budget is adequate to meet their needs. The study gathered insights from over 100 global public-sector IT professionals, indicating that budgetary constraints are a widespread issue.

More than a quarter of respondents (27%) reported experiencing budget cuts in the past year, which had a tangible impact on their projects. Additionally, a third (33%) had requested increases in their IT budget but had their requests denied, further compounding financial pressures.

As IT continues to evolve rapidly, over a third (35%) of professionals expressed challenges in keeping pace with technological innovations. This struggle adds another layer of difficulty to managing budgets effectively.

Upcoming financial challenges appear significant, with 51% expecting budget issues to be the primary obstacle over the next year. Many anticipate possible budget reductions influenced by changing governmental policies worldwide.

Justifying IT expenses proves to be a substantial hurdle, as almost half of those surveyed (47%) encounter difficulties in convincing upper management about the necessity of their expenditures.

Sascha Giese, Global Tech Evangelist at SolarWinds, commented on the situation, "This survey highlights that, despite the criticality of IT services to the functioning of the public sector, IT teams are continuously being asked to do more with less."

Giese further noted the challenges posed by "changing governments, policies and priorities," emphasising that the burdens on IT teams represent risks not limited to the public sector alone but also the broader public. "With these teams providing vital services for all citizens, however, any pressures or budgetary challenges facing public sector IT teams aren't just isolated issues—they are risks for us all," Giese added.

He urged the public sector to re-evaluate its budget allocations, saying, "The public sector needs to urgently re-evaluate its budget allocations for IT infrastructure and innovation to equip these workers with the tools and technologies to make their teams deliver better, more efficient, secure services for governments, public sector agencies, and citizens. If not, they risk falling even further behind the private sector."

The IT Community Pulse survey, which informed these findings, was conducted in September 2024. It engaged professionals in practitioner to director roles across Europe, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific region.