WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This morning state and local government IT media company StateScoop and HP (NYSE: HPQ) released the first-ever "StateScoop 2015 Mobility Study." The joint study found that empowering employees with mobile technology remains a top priority for state IT leaders, but this study also suggests that many state agencies lack the funding and formal strategic plans to fully execute on that priority.

StateScoop polled 470 IT executives from state government agencies. Interesting statistics from the poll include:

• Seventy-two percent of respondents said mobility was a high- or mid-level priority at their agency.
• But only 57 percent of respondents said their agency has a formal mobility strategy.
• Nearly half said their agency's IT and mobile budget is insufficient to address current and emerging mobile technology needs.
• Six out of 10 respondents say agency-issued/managed mobile devices are allowed access to public wireless networks, raising the study's concerns about how best to safeguard agency information.
• Meanwhile, two of three respondents say the number of mobile devices, including employee's own devices accessing agency networks continues to grow, creating new network capacity and wireless management demands.

IT leaders appear to be facing a difficult time keeping up with demand, according to the survey, which polled chief information and technology officers, chief operating officers, and other senior IT and program officials working for state government.

Seven out of 10 state IT leaders surveyed, for instance, say users "often complain about wireless performance" on their agency networks, pointing to disruptions and dead spots within agency facilities. Developing the appropriate security controls also remains a crucial issue, with half of those surveyed saying it was the biggest challenge they faced in moving forward with their mobile strategies.

"Without the right technology partner, mobility can pose a complex challenge for IT administrators with various issues including dealing with security, governance, network management and even the selection of which device is best," said Diana Hansen, manager, public sector marketing, HP Printing and Personal Systems. "IT modernization from the front end to the back end will help to reduce security risks."

The "StateScoop 2015 Mobility Study" identified recommendations for state IT leaders on the top three things needed to implement successful strategies surrounding accessibility, security, and productivity.

On the brighter side, state leaders seem convinced there's a pay off for investing in mobile technology, citing improved productivity, continuity of operations, cost savings, improved employee retention and customer services among the top benefits.

Download the study at: www.statescoop.com

http://statescoop.com/state-it-execs-struggle-to-meet-mobility-goals/

Media Contacts:

Claire Corbett. claire.corbett@scoopnewsgroup.com. 202-255-9599
Jim Christensen. jim.christensen@hp.com. +1 408-309-0186.

About StateScoop

StateScoop features the latest leaders and innovators, news and events in state and local government technology. StateScoop gathers top leaders from across government, academia and the tech industry to discuss ways technology can improve government, and to exchange best practices and identify ways to achieve common goals.

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http://www.statescoop.com