CIOs' Top Techs
CIOs might not have much fundage these days, but only the most short-sighted would stop spending altogether. What's different form the past is every dime gets close scrutiny now, and money goes to areas most in need. (Congress could learn a lesson or two from this!)
In a recent survey by Robert Half Technology, some 1,400 top IT chiefs detailed their priorities. The No. 1 priority is unfortunate: security. It's great that IT takes this issue so seriously, but it's a disgrace that hackers, cybercriminals and Internet low-lifes dictate IT spending, especially in these volumes.
The second-most popular in investment has an actual payback and isn't just a sinkhole: virtualization. Close to 40 percent of shops polled planned to spend on virtual wares. The third area encompasses virtualization, but goes a few steps further: datacenter efficiency. Consolidating via virtualization is one method, but there are others ways, such as improving venting, getting more efficient power systems, raising datacenter temperatures and even using alternatives such as solar panels and wind (these are neat options as long you're not in a high rise).
VoIP, SaaS and green IT are other top areas, the report concludes. What are your strategic priorities? Send your short lists to [email protected].
Posted by Doug Barney on July 01, 2009