2008 CDW-G Telework Report Reveals One Foot on the Gas, One Foot on the Brake

IT Support for Telework Expands, but Is Offset by Security
Concerns

Private-sector Telework Growth Approaches Federal Level

Federal Ability to Maintain Operations During a Disruption
Continues to Outpace the Private Sector
HERNDON, Va.--(Business Wire)--
CDW Government, Inc. (CDW-G), a wholly owned subsidiary of CDW
Corporation and leading source of Information Technology (IT)
solutions to governments and educators, today announced the findings
of its fourth annual telework survey. According to the national survey
of Federal government and private-sector employees and IT
professionals, private-sector employers have taken significant steps
to expand telework initiatives, and private-sector telework adoption
is approaching the Federal level, with 14 percent of private-sector
employees teleworking, compared to 17 percent of Federal employees.

The CDW-G survey shows that 76 percent of private-sector employers
provide technical support for remote workers, up 27 percentage points
over 2007. Federal agencies remain strong advocates for telework, also
called telecommuting, with 56 percent of Federal IT professionals
indicating that their agencies provide IT support for teleworkers.
Since 2005, Federal IT support has grown 23 percent, according to a
year-over-year trend analysis of telework survey data.

Federal law requires agencies to enable telework for 100 percent
of eligible employees. Drivers for Federal telework adoption include
military base closings and realignments, traffic congestion around
major metropolitan areas, and environmental impacts, as well as
enabling productivity for field workers and planning for continuity of
operations in the event of natural or manmade catastrophes.

Telework and IT security

Alongside the increase in technical support for teleworkers, the
percentage of Federal employees eligible to work remotely dipped to 40
percent from its high of 55 percent in 2006. The drop coincides with
continuing concern about IT security; IT professionals in both sectors
cited security as their top concern about telework, with 42 percent of
Federal IT professionals and 27 percent of private-sector IT
professionals indicating that it is their most pressing challenge.

"More stringent IT security policies are controlling telework
expansion in the Federal government," said Andy Lausch, senior
director of Federal sales for CDW-G. "Federal agencies recognize that
IT security and telework can co-exist, and they are carefully managing
telework programs hand-in-hand with layered technology solutions that
protect data and networks while enabling the increased productivity
and flexibility that telework affords."

Overall, IT professionals appear confident in their organizations'
IT security measures. Eighty-four percent of Federal IT professionals
and 88 percent of private-sector IT professionals said their
organization's IT security procedures and systems are effective.
Fifty-six percent of Federal agencies and 74 percent of private-sector
employers authenticate teleworkers separately from the remote
computers they use, ensuring that they know not only what devices are
accessing their networks, but also who is at the keyboard. Moreover,
nearly 70 percent of Federal and private-sector employers are
providing the computers and other equipment teleworkers use, adding an
additional measure of control.

Despite those security protections, the survey revealed a gap in
awareness that could introduce security weaknesses: 21 percent of
Federal employees and 31 percent of private-sector employees say they
are not aware of their organization's corporate security policies,
potentially opening the door to behaviors that risk security breaches.

Telework capability benefits continuity planning, employee
recruitment

Ever-heightening concerns with traffic congestion, air pollution
and gasoline prices increase the attraction of telework, and the 2008
CDW-G Telework Report also finds that the telework option could
improve employee recruitment, satisfaction and retention. In fact, 50
percent of Federal employees and 40 percent of private-sector
employees say that the option to telework would influence their
decision to remain with their employer or take a new job.

Further, broad telework adoption could ensure the continuity of
government and business operations in the aftermath of a major
catastrophe, or even for the duration of a minor disruptive event,
such as a snowstorm, tornado or wildfire - and this year's survey
finds mixed news on that topic. Consistent with the decrease in
Federal telework eligibility, Federal employees' ability to continue
to work remotely in the event of a natural or man-made disaster has
declined significantly since 2007, with 59 percent of Federal
employees indicating that they could telework during a disruption,
down from 75 percent in 2007. In the private sector, continuity of
operations capability increased but still trails the Feds, with 46
percent of employees indicating that they could continue working
during a disruption, up from 33 percent in 2007.

The value of telework to continuity of operations is clear, with
more than half of Federal employees who can continue working during a
disruption indicating that they are eligible to telework. In the
private sector, the benefit is even more dramatic, with more than 70
percent of employees who can continue working indicating that their
company has a telework program.

"The private sector is solidly embracing telework. Continuity of
operations alone could justify the investment, and improved employee
satisfaction is icing on that cake," said Ken Grimsley, vice president
of strategic sales for CDW. "Still, many businesses remain unprepared
for recovery from disruptions or are failing to take advantage of
affordable, advanced security technologies that are justifiable even
without telework. We have a long way to go."

About the 2008 CDW-G Telework Report

The only concurrent survey of both end-user employees and the
Information Technology (IT) professionals who support them, the 2008
CDW-G Telework Report surveyed more than 1,800 Federal government and
private-sector employees and IT professionals nationwide. Federal
respondents include 550 employees and 273 Federal IT professionals
returning results with a +/-4.12 percent and +/-5.89 percent margin of
error respectively. Private-sector respondents include 539 employees
and 452 IT professionals returning results with a +/-4.16 percent and
+/-4.56 percent margin of error respectively.

For purposes of the survey, CDW-G defines "telework" (or
"telecommuting") as employees doing their current job during regular
work hours from home or another location away from the employer's
primary work locations.

Other data points in the report include:

-- Federal and private-sector interest in telework

-- Continuity of operations planning (COOP) preparedness

-- Current telework security solutions

-- Drivers for telework

-- Teleworker productivity

-- Employee and IT professional perceptions of telework

For more information on the CDW-G Telework Report or to download a
copy, please visit www.cdwg.com/telework.

About CDW-G

A wholly owned subsidiary of CDW Corporation, ranked No. 39 on
Forbes' list of America's Largest Private Companies, CDW Government
(CDW-G) is a trusted technology advisor to federal, state and local
government agencies, as well as to educational institutions at all
levels. CDW-G offers best-in-class technology products and services
from top-name brands such as APC, Acer, Adobe, Apple, Cisco, EMC,
Fujitsu, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Microsoft, Panasonic, Quantum, Samsung,
Sony, Symantec, ViewSonic and Xerox.

For more information about CDW-G product offerings, procurement
options, service and solutions, call 1.800.863.4239, or visit the
CDW-G Web site at CDWG.com.

CDW-G Public Relations
Barbara Crystal, 847-894-5498
bcrystal@cdw.com
or
O'Keeffe & Company
Gail Repsher Emery, 301-789-5340
gemery@okco.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008