https://www.channelfutures.com/wp-content/themes/channelfutures_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
Channel Futures
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
    • Newsletter
  • REGISTER
  • MSPs
  • VARs / SIs
  • Digital Service Providers
  • Cloud Service Providers
  • CHANNEL PARTNERS ONLINE
 Channel Futures

Digital Transformation


Shutterstock

New challenges and opportunities_many path options

The Top IT Challenges Executives Will Face in 2021

  • Written by Stephen Sweett
  • February 17, 2021
Obstacles include bridging the IT skills gap, managing remote workers and managing migration to the cloud.
Buchanan Technologies' Stephen Sweett

Stephen Sweett

Last year was an unprecedented year that posed numerous challenges to organizations of all sizes. Many had to reimagine their business operations and learn new and innovative ways to serve their customers.

Government-mandated shutdowns, social distancing protocols, capacity regulations, furloughs and layoffs and travel restrictions are just a few of the major obstacles businesses had to navigate.

However, perhaps one of the most difficult obstacles to manage was that of IT. As organizations shifted to remote working in droves – and additional VPN connections, hardware and other resources were desperately needed – many company executives realized their IT solution wasn’t up to par.

Will we see this trend continue into this year? As we prepare for the year ahead, let’s take a look at some of the biggest IT challenges executives are expected to face.

Bridging the Skills Gap

IT continues to play a critical role in a business’s day-to-day operations. Couple that with the fact that IT is becoming increasingly complex due to digital transformation initiatives, and it is proving to be more and more difficult to find adequately skilled and qualified workers in the IT industry.

It was reported by Gartner that by 2020, skills gaps will have caused 75% of organizations to experience visible business disruptions. Fortunately, there are options to help remedy this issue should your organization find itself in a similar situation.

Many businesses partner with an IT staffing provider to aid in the efforts of sourcing and placing resources across their IT department. Staffing providers have a repository of candidates with a wide breadth of IT knowledge, as well as very niche skill sets, so they can easily accommodate any type of role you’re looking to fill. They also stand behind their resources, meaning that if for some reason they are not a fit for your organization, they will provide you with an alternative option.

Also helping bridge the skills gap is the incorporation of automation in your workflow processes. Not only can this help your organization save on overhead expenses and other costs, but it can also increase efficiency with quicker response times, better resolution rates, and reduced workloads on level 1 resources.

Protecting Against Vulnerabilities

Data privacy and cybersecurity threats are topics that have ongoing concerns, both from an organizational and consumer perspective.

Privacy laws, such as the EU’s General Protection Data Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), have set the standard on requirements organizations can expect to adhere to in the coming months and years.

With data breaches on the rise through ransomware, malware and phishing attacks, proprietary company and sensitive consumer data have never been more susceptible to exposure.

To help avoid this, it may be wise to have a network assessment completed to determine what, if any, steps need to be taken to ultimately decrease risks for your business. Partnering with a managed IT service provider for round-the-clock network monitoring, patch management, backup and disaster recovery solutions and more will add another layer of security to your IT systems and further protect you from potential threats.

If your organization doesn’t have the right technologies in place to detect and respond to a potential breach, as well as defined data handling policies, you may be looking at a very costly dilemma down the road.

Implementing New Technologies and Strategies

With the abundance of new products and technologies, it can be daunting for CIOs and CTOs to know which ones they should incorporate into their IT strategy and infrastructure to remain competitive.

However, it’s not feasible to simply introduce new technology and hope for success — it must be a methodical, well-planned initiative to see a return on your investment.

To better identify which types of technologies would best help you reach your IT goals, look at performing a …

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
Tags: MSPs VARs/SIs Best Practices Channel Research Cloud Digital Transformation Networking Security Strategy

Related


  • Staged Approach to Security Services
    The Smart Money’s on a Staged Approach to Security Services Provision
    Countering threats to customers is best achieved with a staged approach to security services.
  • Financial Services
    Xerox Financial Services Launches to Help Enterprise, SMB Customers
    The new business works with any third-party dealer or reseller.
  • Cloud Certification
    Protegrity Partners Get New Program with Added Training, Certification
    Protegrity partners asked for access to more training.
  • Cloud Apps
    Getting Clients Ready for an 88% Increase in Cloud Adoption
    Cloud apps are a saving grace in retooling companies during the pandemic.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your Channel Futures account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Disaster Recovery Planning Includes Ensuring That Data Can Be Recovered
  • 2021 Channel Influencer Awards
  • Palo Alto Networks Unveils Bridgecrew Acquisition, Prisma Access 2.0
  • Tactical Threat Intelligence Has a Critical Place in a Layered Cybersecurity Strategy

Galleries

View all

Threat Protection Vendors: Why MSSPs Have to Ramp Up Efforts Right Now

February 23, 2021

Industry Perspectives

View all

Three Ways MSPs Can Improve Supply Chain Security

February 24, 2021

SASE: The Key to Mitigating Business Transformation Risk

February 22, 2021

Public Sector IT Funding Outlook for 2021–and What It Means for Our Reseller Partners

February 18, 2021

Webinars

View all

XDR and Why it Matters to MSPs

March 24, 2021

Top Security Trends Impacting Technology Security Providers In 2021

March 25, 2021

In Case of Emergency: The Importance of Proactive Critical Event Management

February 23, 2021
  • 1

White Papers

View all

Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response Optimum

February 19, 2021

Product Brief: Kaseya VSA Integrated Workflows with BMS and IT Glue

January 26, 2021

Why Subscription Business Model

January 15, 2021

Upcoming Events

View all

Channel Partners Virtual

March 2, 2021 - March 4, 2021

Channel Partners Conference & Expo

November 1, 2021 - November 4, 2021

Videos and Fastchats

View all

FASTCHAT: How SOAR Eliminates Security Challenges and Elevates Service Provider Revenues

January 6, 2021

Happy Holidays from Channel Partners & Channel Futures!

December 21, 2020

FASTCHAT: How Old, Unpatched Technologies Are Creating New Security Threats for MSPs and Their Customers

December 3, 2020

Twitter

ChannelFutures

.@BlackBerry report shows rise in hacker-for-hire groups targeting #MSSPs. dlvr.it/RtQjD9 https://t.co/VYr5cEXCCm

February 25, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@PTsecurity_UK discovers #vulnerabilities in @VMware vCenter server. dlvr.it/RtQjD5 https://t.co/WQbn5SJdFL

February 25, 2021
ChannelFutures

Take #supplychainsecurity to the next level. @Sophos #MSP #MSSP #ransomware #cybersecurity #managedservice… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

February 25, 2021
ChannelFutures

[email protected]_inc rolls out first partner program. #securityanalytics dlvr.it/RtQhlW https://t.co/c1Xhxaf3qr

February 25, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@AteraCloud receives $25 million investment to help more #MSPs, IT pros. dlvr.it/RtPbBG https://t.co/UxHqhrUKgx

February 24, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@Infoblox rolls out new #Cloud Specialization program to increase partners' #SaaS sales. dlvr.it/RtPb7f https://t.co/CmZTwYiv1u

February 24, 2021
ChannelFutures

RT @Channel_Expo: ⏱️ Time is ticking to save on your pass to #CPVirtual next week...View all pass options and secure your virtual seat by F…

February 24, 2021
ChannelFutures

The new @Commvault #EMEA channel exec will focus attention on alliances, cloud and simplifying and expanding partne… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

February 24, 2021

MSSP Insider

Newsletters and Updates

Sign up for The Channel Report, Channel Futures Update, MSP 501 Newsletter and more.

Live Channel Events

Get the latest information on the next industry-leading Channel Partners event.

Channel Partners Online

Want more? Find more channel news and analysis on our sister site, Channel Partners.

Media Kit And Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • Channel Partners Online
  • Channel Partners Events
  • MSP 501
  • MSSP Insider
  • IoT World Today
  • Webhostingtalk

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter

FOLLOW Channel Futures ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X