With Second Term Ahead – What Tech Initiatives Matter Most for Government Agencies in 2013

President Barack Obama has been reelected as the 44th president of the United States. And while he may still be holding on to his treasured Blackberry, most of us are more interested in what technology trends he and his administration will pursue to make public sector agencies smarter, faster and more efficient.

Throughout Obama’s first term he made significant headway with data center consolidation, cloud computing, information transparency and cybersecurity, and it seems like he’ll be keeping tech initiatives on his agenda.

To solidify his commitment to furthering technology, Obama made mention of it in his victory speech:

“But despite all our differences, most of us share certain hopes for America’s future; we want our kids to grow up in a country where they access to the best schools and the best teachers. A country that lives up to its legacy as the global leader in technology and discovery and innovation. With all the new jobs and new businesses that follow.”

So looking at Obama’s track record and guarantees, what should the public sector have its eyes on? Take a look at the four technology trends identified by many as likely second-term priorities:

Cybersecurity: During Obama’s first term he promoted October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month  and was active in bolstering attention to the nation’s cyber defenses. As his second term commences, 85 percent of government technology professionals continue to cite cybersecurity as a top priority, according to a recent study. Predictions from Government Executive suggest that in 2013 we will see the President take a more offensive stance with minimum security standards for federal IT infrastructures.

BYO_: While the BYOD trend is catching fire in government agencies, some suggest we’ll see a shift from Bring-Your-Own-Device to Bring-Your-Own-Everything. Fueled by efficiency and employee demand, government officials are likely to invest in tackling BYOD challenges like security.

Collaborative Tools: The collaborative technologies businesses have long benefitted from will continue to make their way into government agencies.  Over the next four years the adoption of things like workplace social networks and video technology will facilitate efficiency, innovation and partnerships throughout federal organizations.

Education: Education reform is one of Obama’s top concerns. Technological solutions will play a key role in reshaping the nation’s education system as agencies work to increase access, improve quality and decrease costs.

What federal IT trends do you care most about? And do you have any predictions for 2013?