The Source Platform & Infrastructure
Guide

What’s next in DevSecOps for the Public Sector

Explore DevSecOps trends in the public sector, from AI adoption to security investments and beyond.

It’s clear from our 2024 Global DevSecOps Survey of more than 5,000 DevSecOps professionals that artificial intelligence (AI), security, and automation are top of mind for organizations across the board. But what about the public sector? This industry has some unique challenges and requirements — from countering cybersecurity threats to maintaining compliance and accelerating software delivery — that could make their progress and priorities a bit different.

We analyzed the 687 survey responses from development, security, and operations professionals in the public sector (defined in our survey as government, aerospace, and defense organizations).

According to our survey, the public sector as a whole is currently using AI in the software development lifecycle more than their peers in other key industries, including financial services, telecommunications, and software/computer hardware. But this doesn’t tell the whole story.

AI usage in the public sector varies substantially by geographic region. In North America, 38% of respondents said their organization is currently using AI for software development. This is similar to what we found for all respondents across industries and regions (39%), but lower than their public sector peers in other regions. Many are planning to start using AI, though. Three-quarters (75%) of public sector respondents in North America are currently using AI or plan to in the next two years.

In Europe and the U.K., more than half of respondents in the public sector (57%) reported that their organization is currently using AI in the SDLC — and 88% are currently using AI or plan to in the next two years.

In Asia and Oceania, nearly half (49%) of respondents said their organization is currently using AI in the SDLC, with a total of 82% currently or planning to use AI in the next two years.

A few things could have helped Europe get ahead on adopting AI for software development. First, the European Union (EU) set the parameters for AI adoption, by passing the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, earlier than the United States and many other countries. Second, the EU is investing in AI with The Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) and Horizon Europe.

Read the full report for more in-depth analysis on DevSecOps, cybersecurity threats, AI advancements, and the unique challenges faced by the public sector.

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What’s next in DevSecOps for the Public Sector

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Key takeaways
  • The public sector is focusing IT investments on security, AI, and DevSecOps platforms in 2024.
  • Europe is at the forefront of AI adoption in software development, prioritizing AI integration across all stages of software development lifecycle.
  • Onboarding developers, ensuring supply chain security, and enhancing application security practices are the key challenges faced by the public sector.