Global government IT spending to grow 5% in 2021 — Gartner
This blog post, brought to you by GovDirect, details the projected increase in global government IT spending set to take place in 2021 and the reasons behind it.
How fast is government IT spending growing?
According to Gartner, global government IT spending is projected to grow by 5% in 2021. This reflects ongoing investment in public safety measures and vaccination programmes, as well as broader digital transformation efforts.
Not all areas are growing at the same pace. Three government IT segments are on track to outpace overall market growth, with software leading the way. The software segment (including application, infrastructure, and vertical-specific software) is expected to see the strongest growth at 9.2% in 2021. This highlights how governments are rethinking how they deliver services, relying more on software to support both operational and mission-critical needs.
Why are governments accelerating digital transformation?
Governments are accelerating digital transformation mainly in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to protect public health and safety. Vaccination programmes and other public safety measures have made it essential to digitise more services and improve access for citizens.
Gartner notes that governments are increasingly adopting commercially available technology solutions for both operational and mission-critical needs. We are seeing more innovative use of technology and data to:
- Control and respond to the pandemic
- Provide financial and humanitarian assistance
- Support remote access to government services
The pandemic also exposed weaknesses in how quickly government organisations could respond, scale, and secure essential services. These lessons are now driving investments aimed at increasing resiliency and building a stronger foundation for citizens and businesses.
Which IT areas are governments prioritising in 2021?
In 2021, government IT investment is being shaped by recovery needs and the shift to more digital, remote-friendly services. Gartner highlights several priorities:
- Devices and remote work: As government organisations continue working remotely and using hyperconnected public services, spending on devices is expected to grow 5.6% in 2021, up from 1.6% growth in 2020.
- Digital equity and access: Budgets are being directed toward digital equity and improving access to remote government services, so more citizens and businesses can interact with government online.
- Resiliency and security: After the pandemic exposed gaps in responsiveness and security, there is a stronger focus on building systems that can scale quickly and remain secure under pressure.
Overall, these priorities show how governments are reimagining service delivery, using IT investments to support both immediate recovery and longer-term growth for communities and businesses.
Global government IT spending to grow 5% in 2021 — Gartner
published by GovDirect
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