Sharing our thanks this IT Pro Day

IT Pro Day celebrates the tech whizzes who keep the wheels spinning across the digital landscape. They are often unsung heroes that are overlooked whilst everything is running smoothly, only called upon when things go wrong.

But, they keep businesses functioning on a daily basis and it’s time we showed our appreciation.

Donnie MacColl, Director of EMEA Technical Services at HelpSystems, explains the importance of the day: “IT Pro Day celebrates not only the mentors, and trailblazers, but also the rookies of the tech world – whichever role they may play. This is where flexibility and change are at the core of what it means to be an IT Pro, as the global shortage of technical skills leads many people from other industries and professions to retrain in IT. This path is more important than ever, especially given our reliance on IT and the rapid changes happening in the world every day.”

“IT professionals are often expected to rise to a wide array of challenges, particularly when things go wrong,” adds Richard Orange, Vice President EMEA at Exabeam. “Despite this, they are also often overlooked – but they play a crucial role in keeping organisations afloat and functioning all year round. From technical to analytical operations, IT specialists are responsible for so many essential aspects of IT systems used by companies and consumers every day. This includes functions such as designing and building technical controls, maintaining technology systems, carefully handling data, and ensuring compliance with privacy legislation. It can be a tedious and difficult role, so it is important to consider and celebrate the work of IT pros not just on IT Pro Day – but every day.”

Constantly adapting 

It is undeniable that the ways in which we work and operate have changed hugely in the last couple of years. We have IT professionals to thank for making it such a seamless process.

As Simon Gould, Chief Product Officer at Totalmobile, recognises: “As many organisations and employees continue to get to grips with new hybrid working styles, IT professionals face the challenge of managing the technologies that allow for a flexible workforce on a large scale. Over the last few years, they’ve gone above and beyond expectations, keeping colleagues connected throughout the pandemic and the return to the office – often working long hours and going without holiday leave to ensure that their organisation continues to run smoothly.”

“In today’s digital age, the majority of organisations are undergoing almost constant change – whether it’s managing a hybrid workforce or keeping up with the latest digital transformation trends,” agrees Terry Storrar, Managing Director of Leaseweb UK.

Showing appreciation

So, how can organisations thank their IT professionals for their constant hard work and show them just how much they are appreciated? As Warwick Taylor, Global Head of IT Operations at Cubic Transportation Systems, suggests, “this IT Pro Day, we should acknowledge all the work our IT professionals do and think of ways we can make their life easier. For example, knowledge management and collaboration platforms are now more important than ever to ensure timely resolution to complex technical problems that span a range of specialist areas. Investing in these tools is key to alleviating the burden on our IT teams in the post-pandemic era, where adaptability is mission critical.”

Michael Yoo, GM of Technology & Development at Skillsoft, recommends investing in training and development because continuous upskilling helps IT pros stay ahead in a constantly evolving sector.

“Due to the nature of the role, training must be varied — from on-the-job training integrated into the work day to official IT certifications. For example, Skillsoft’s Cybersecurity Career Journeys offers employees a clear and structured way to build skills: combining learning science with expert content to increase information retention and on-the-job application of new skills. A prescriptive path to certification and skill development can be particularly helpful in getting IT pros up to speed when the hiring market makes it impossible to recruit candidates with all the required skills to do their job effectively. Learning opportunities also help keep IT pros engaged, boosting retention in today’s competitive job market. It is an intelligent investment that will help IT pros feel valued while providing a strong skills foundation for today’s digital enterprises.”

“Automation software can help alleviate these pressures, allowing them to rise to the occasion,” adds Craig Fulton, Chief Customer Officer at ConnectWise. “Using a PSA solution to automate workflows not only improves IT teams’ productivity, it also enhances the customer experience by clarifying accountability and giving clients a more effective way to communicate with your teams. When looking to minimise chaos and drive efficiency, many MSPs are turning to remote monitoring and management (RMM) tools to make it easier to deal with complex IT environments that span traditional offices and less-secure work from home setups. These can help ease the pressure on IT pros by proactively monitoring to prevent problems and automatically fixing common issues by scripting basic tasks and documenting the results.”

He continues: “Integrated toolsets can also help IT pros keep up with demands. With all tools and systems used to support clients integrated into a single place, they are able to work quickly, provide reliable and consistent services, and keep the customer productive. As the world shifts into a new era of work driven by accelerated digital transformation, supporting and equipping IT pros in this ever-changing environment should be mission critical.”

Christopher Rogers, Technology Evangelist at Zerto, a Hewlett Packard company, agrees that it is crucial for organisations to “invest in the tools to help them with their tasks – for example, Continuous Data Protection (CDP). In doing this, IT teams will be able to get things up and running quickly when something goes wrong, limiting downtime and restoring operations in a matter of seconds or minutes, rather than days or weeks.”

In summary, Hugh Scantlebury, CEO and Founder of Aqilla, reminds us that IT professionals are “the people who keep our networks up and running, rain or shine. We simply would not be able to work without them.”

To conclude, Scantlebury shares his “thanks to these often-unsung heroes” and encourages “everyone else to do the same this IT Pro Day.”