The GOOD 'Cost of Covering Up' study looks at money being spent by the U.S government to conceal its secrets, private documents, salaries, and security clearance. According to this study, in 2011 it cost the United States of America $11.4 billion. The budget has more than doubled, especially when comparing the $4.7 million budget in 2001, and in 2008 it was only at $8.7 million.
The breakdown of the expenditures are as follows, 54 percent is allocated to information security, 15.3 percent is for physical security, 13.4 percent is for security management, 12.3 percent is for personnel security and the rest is put towards professional and education training.
It also appears that the number of declassified records has been decreasing over the years, leading many to speculate on what the government is trying to hide.
Government Secrecy Spending Graphics
The GOOD 'Cost of Covering Up' Study Looks at the U.S. Budget
Trend Themes
1. Government Secrecy Spending - The increasing budget allocated towards government secrecy provide opportunities for disruptive innovation in the information and physical security industries.
2. Declassification Technology - The decreasing number of declassified records calls for disruption in technology to aid the government in declassification.
3. Transparent Government - The desire for greater governmental transparency presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation within the information management and cybersecurity industries.
Industry Implications
1. Information Security - The majority of government secrecy spending is allocated towards information security, creating opportunities for disruption and innovation within the industry.
2. Physical Security - A significant portion of government secrecy spending is dedicated to physical security, providing room for disruptive innovation in the industry.
3. Education and Training - The allocation of government secrecy spending towards education and training creates opportunities for disruptive innovation and advancements in security education and training industries.