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Survey finds resources, staff lacking for federal big data projects

October 06, 2015

Federal executives in the US see big data as crucial to agency missions but are concerned about IT resources and staffing, according to a survey sponsored by Unisys Corp. (NYSE: UIS).

Almost all, 93%, of the survey’s federal government respondents with big data projects underway said the use of advanced data analytics has improved the quality and speed of decision-making, while 87% said the projects have improved their ability to predict trends and quantify risk.

However, the survey also found respondents who are considering big data projects are concerned that their agencies' current storage, computer and networking infrastructures might not be able to support their big data needs; they are also concerned about their agencies’ ability to analyze key data rather than simply collect it.

Additionally, more than one-third of respondents, 35%, reported difficulty obtaining and retaining the knowledge workers and data scientists needed for successful big data initiatives.

In order to fulfill the needs of new big data projects, many agencies are looking to hire additional employees, as well as bring on support from outside consultants, according to the survey data. Sixty-eight percent of survey respondents said their agencies are hiring more data analysts, while half said their agencies are in the market for a data analytics director.