The document discusses the results of a survey of 298 IT professionals in the US and Canada on emerging technologies and their impact on the role of IT. Key findings include: - Over 90% of IT professionals said infrastructure complexity has affected their role in the last 3-5 years. - Top emerging technologies impacting businesses were compute virtualization, mobility, and cloud computing. BYOD was seen as most disruptive. - Cloud computing and mobility were seen as most important for investment to remain competitive in the future. - Information security and cloud skills will be most in demand, while server management and virtualization skills are most likely to be automated. - The IT role needing most adaptation is information security.

1. New IT Survey: North America
A look at the evolving role of IT, its drivers, needed skillsets,
and how IT pros view their roles within this “new IT” environment
Conducted by C White Consulting
November 2013
1

2. Study Overview: areas of discussion
» What are the top emerging technologies impacting/evolving
the role of IT?
» How much has increased infrastructure complexity changed
an IT pro’s roles/responsibilities within the past 3-5
years, and how will it change the role into the next 3-5 years?
» Are IT pros both prepared and empowered to provide a
higher level of business value given these identified
emerging technologies and their definition of the “new IT”?
For the purposes of this study, “infrastructure complexity” is defined as the continuously
growing, increasingly complicated nature of the infrastructure due to new technologies (such as
SDN, virtualization, etc.) as well as the ever-increasing responsibilities placed on IT professionals
from an IT operations perspective (by supporting new service offerings such as cloud,
mobility, etc.) and business operations perspective (such as compliance)
2

3. Demographics: breakdown of survey respondents
Company Size
(number of employees)
50-99 FTEs
8%
30%
100-249 FTEs
15%
10%
16%
7%
14%
IT Pro’s Role
250-499 FTEs
500-999 FTEs
1000-1499 FTEs
3% 4%
Practitioner
1500-4999 FTEs
5000+ FTEs
17%
Manager
49%
Director
IT Consultant
27%
Other IT-related
Public/Private Sector Split
3%
47%
Public Sector
51%
Private Sector
It's Complicated
298 IT practitioners, managers and directors in the U.S. and Canada from public- and private-sector
small, mid-size and enterprise companies participated in a November 2013 online survey
3

4. Top Emerging Technologies
Evolving the Role of IT Pro
4

5. Top Emerging Technologies Evolving the Role of IT
Technology Advancement with Most Significant Business Impact in Last 3-5 Years
0%
10%
20%
21%
23%
19%
21%
18%
15%
14%
Cloud computing
4%
Compliance
#1
#2
29%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Overall
Small Bus
Mid-Size Bus
Enterprise
8%
8%
9%
6%
4%
4%
7%
Data analytics
Other
50%
11%
14%
10%
11%
Bring Your Own ___ (BYOx) (ie BYOD, BYOA, BYOT)
SDN/virtual networks
39%
24%
Mobility
40%
26%
19%
Compute virtualization (server or desktop)
Self-service automation
30%
0%
4%
3%
6%
4%
3%
1%
5%
2%
4%
0%
2%
One-fourth of all IT pros surveyed indicate that compute virtualization (server or desktop) is the technology
advancement that had the most significant impact on their business within the last 3-5 years, followed closely
by mobility and cloud computing. By business size, only small business IT pros deviated from the overall
results, indicating that cloud computing, followed by mobility and then compute virtualization had the most
significant business impact in the last 3-5 years.
Which technological advancement had the most significant impact on your
company within the last 3-5 years? [choose only one, provided “other” fill in
blank option as well]
5

6. Top Emerging Technologies Evolving the Role of IT
Emerging Technology That Is Most Disruptive to Business
0%
10%
20%
30%
23%
Bring Your Own ___ (BYOx) (ie BYOD, BYOA, BYOT)
19%
18%
Mobility
19%
15%
18%
Cloud computing
8%
28%
#1
#2
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Overall
Small Bus
Mid-Size Bus
15%
13%
19%
Enterprise
11%
9%
11%
13%
Compute virtualization (server or desktop)
Self-service automation
38%
50%
13%
10%
10%
16%
Compliance
Data analytics
40%
8%
6%
8%
9%
6%
7%
7%
6%
SDN/virtual networks
3%
4%
1%
3%
Other
1%
4%
1%
0%
Nearly one-fourth of all IT pros surveyed indicate that Bring Your Own ___ (BYOx) – such as device (BYOD) or
application (BYOA) – is the emerging technology that is most disruptive to business (in terms of having the
most significant impact on business operations as well as IT time/energy spent). Mobility, cloud
computing, compliance and compute virtualization (server or desktop) round out the top 5 overall. By business
size, mobility edges out BYOx for the most disruptive emerging technology of small business IT pros, and cloud
computing edges out both BYOx and mobility for that of enterprise IT pros.
Which of the following emerging technologies is the most disruptive to your
business (in terms of having the most significant impact on business operations
as well as IT time/energy spent)? [choose only one, provided “other” fill in
6
blank option as well]

7. Top Emerging Technologies Evolving the Role of IT
Technology Investment Needed Today to Remain Competitive in Next 3-5 Years
0%
10%
20%
15%
Cloud computing
20%
22%
19%
20%
14%
19%
14%
13%
Compute virtualization (server or desktop)
50%
#1
#2
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Overall
Small Bus
Mid-Size Bus
Enterprise
10%
10%
13%
9%
Bring Your Own ___ (BYOx) (ie BYOD, BYOA, BYOT)
9%
9%
10%
9%
Self-service automation
Other
26%
40%
13%
15%
8%
14%
Data analytics
SDN/virtual networks
22%
23%
Mobility
Compliance
30%
4%
3%
4%
5%
4%
4%
3%
4%
2%
3%
3%
2%
Almost one-fourth of all IT pros surveyed indicate that cloud computing is the most important technology for
their business to invest in today in order to remain competitive for the next 3-5 years. Another one-fifth of all
IT pros surveyed indicate mobility is that technology. By business size, only small business IT pros deviate from
the overall results, as mobility followed by compute virtualization (server or desktop) are small business IT
pros’ top two investment needs today in order to remain competitive in the future.
In order to remain competitive for the NEXT 3-5 years, what is the most
important technology, IT service, or business operation for your company to
invest in today? [choose only one, provided “other” fill in blank option as well]
7

8. Infrastructure Complexity
& Its Impact on IT Pros
8

9. Infrastructure Complexity & Its Impact on IT Pros
Impact of Infrastructure Complexity on IT Role
in Last 3-5 Years (Overall)
Small Business IT Pros
4%
39%
1%
56%
4%
It has greatly affected my
role/responsibilities
42%
52%
1%
Mid-Size Business IT Pros
7% 0%
It has somewhat affected
my role/responsibilities
39%
It has not affected my
role/responsibilities
54%
Do not know
Enterprise IT Pros
3%
1%
45%
50%
Over 94% of IT professionals said infrastructure complexity has either somewhat affected or greatly affected
their role/responsibilities within the last 3-5 years. By business size, slightly more enterprise IT pros feel that
infrastructure complexity has “greatly affected” their role/responsibilities compared with their small business
and mid-size IT pro counterparts.
Based on the definition of “infrastructure complexity” above, how much has
increased infrastructure complexity changed your IT role/responsibilities within
the last 3-5 years? [choose only one]
9

10. Infrastructure Complexity & Its Impact on IT Pros
Length of Time Technologies Have Been Managed by IT
0%
Compute virtualization (server or desktop)
Mobility
Compliance
Data analytics
10%
Bring Your Own ___ (BYOx) (ie BYOD, BYOA, BYOT)
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
49%
43%
32%
IT has managed >3yrs
6%
32%
19%
12%
11%
IT has managed 1-3yrs
24%
IT has managed <1yr
22%
20%
18%
13%
2%
Managed in dept other than IT
26%
5%
4%
13%
19%
22%
Managed by MSP
37%
18%
21%
2%
1%
Do not use
34%
24%
7%
8%
16%
17%
5%
28%
24%
13%
1%
50%
29%
13%
Cloud computing
Self-service automation
40%
8%
1%
SDN/virtual networks
30%
8%
3%
3%
3%
3%
20%
17%
25%
40%
Over half (54%) of all IT departments surveyed are currently managing ALL listed technologies. Compute
virtualization, mobility and compliance have been managed by IT the longest, with at least one-third of IT
departments having managed each technology for over 3 years. One-fifth of IT departments have managed
Bring Your Own ___ (BYOx) and data analytics for less than one year. Compliance and data analytics are each
managed by an internal department other than IT within just over 10% of all companies surveyed.
IT professionals are increasingly asked to take on additional responsibilities as
new technologies, IT service offerings, and business operations requirements
emerge. As a result of this increased infrastructure complexity, which
statement below best applies to each of the following technologies? [choose
10
one response per row, provided “other” fill in the blank option as well]

11. Infrastructure Complexity & Its Impact on IT Pros
IT Skills Becoming Automated within Next 3-5 Years
0%
10%
20%
30%
Server management
Virtualization
27%
Cloud or SaaS
24%
Mobile apps/device management
Business analytics
Technical support
Data center
Database administration
Information security
Network engineering
Project management
Programming/Development
Other
40%
50%
42%
38% 42%
43%
41%
34%
36%
45%
36%
39%
39%
32%
33%
35%
24% 28%
25%
22%
15%
22%
24%
22%
15% 19%
25%
20%
21%
17% 20%
13% 17%
11%
21%
13%
10%
6%
17%
9%
10%
6%
11%
9%
10%
1%
12%
4%
3% 7%
4%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
#1
#2
Overall
Small Bus
Mid-Size Bus
Enterprise
19%
Just over 40% of all IT pros surveyed indicate that both server management and virtualization are the top IT skillsets
that will become automated within the next 3-5 years, followed by cloud/SaaS. Over 91% of IT pros agree that
neither programming/dev nor project management will become automated within that same time period. By
business size, only small business IT pros deviate from the overall top 3 (though the order of the top 3 varies for
both mid-size and enterprise) as business analytics moves ahead of cloud/SaaS as slightly more likely to become
automated within the next 3-5 years for small business IT pros.
Which IT skills will become automated within the next 3-5 years? [choose all
that apply, provided “other” fill in blank option as well]
11

12. Infrastructure Complexity & Its Impact on IT Pros
IT Skills in Higher Demand within Next 3-5 Years
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
45%
Information security
Cloud or SaaS
Virtualization
Mobile apps/device management
31%
21%
Business analytics
15%
15%
Project management
51%
52% 56%
51%
49%
49% 54%
43%
46% 49%
39%
37%
36%
40%
36%
44%
38%
70%
80%
90%
100%
#1
#2
Overall
Small Bus
Mid-Size Bus
Enterprise
21%
22%
22%
Technical support
Programming/Development
60%
27%
25%
32%
25%
26%
26% 30%
24% 27%
28%
20%
Network engineering
16%
15%
15% 19%
16%
15%
13% 17%
15%
9%
17%
16%
Database administration
Server management
Data center
Other
50%
0%
0%
0%
1%
Slightly over 50% of all IT pros surveyed indicate that information security and cloud/SaaS are the top IT
skillsets that will be in higher demand within the next 3-5 years, followed by virtualization. Nearly 85% of IT
pros agree that data center, server management, and database administration will not be in any higher
demand over the next 3-5 years. By business size, enterprise IT pros also include mobile apps/device
management in the top IT skills that will be in higher demand within the next 3-5 years.
Which IT skills will be in higher demand within the next 3-5 years? [choose all
that apply, provided “other” fill in blank option as well]
12

13. Infrastructure Complexity & Its Impact on IT Pros
IT Role Needing to Adapt The Most within Next 3-5 Years
0%
10%
20%
7%
8%
Network
4%
6%
6%
Applications
Server
Systems
Database administration
Repair
Other
2%
1%
11%
50%
38%
37%
Data center
Privacy
40%
31%
Information security
Firewall
30%
#2
13%
9%
10%
11%
9%
48%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
#1
Overall
Small Bus
Mid-Size Bus
Enterprise
13%
9%
10%
8%
9%
8%
13%
6%
6%
4%
6%
8%
4%
7%
4%
3%
6%
3%
3%
2%
4%
1%
1%
1%
3%
0%
1%
Nearly 40% of all IT pros surveyed indicate that information security is the IT role that will need to adapt the most to
evolving technology within the next 3-5 years. By business size, almost half of mid-size IT pros agree, while onethird of small business and enterprise IT pros feel the same. A distant second overall is the data center role, where
11% of all IT pros feel this role will need to adapt the most to evolving technology. By business size, small business
IT pros indicate the systems role as second behind information security, while enterprise IT pros include the
applications role along with data center in the second spot.
Which IT role will need to adapt the most to evolving technology within the next
3-5 years? [choose only one, provided “other” fill in blank option as well]
13

14. IT Pro Preparation & Empowerment
for the “New IT” Environment
14

15. IT Pro Preparation & Empowerment for the “New IT”
IT Pro Confidence in Providing Guidance for
Strategic Business Decisions (Overall)
3% 1%
Small Business IT Pros
1%
4%
29%
66%
I am completely confident
32%
Mid-Size Business IT Pros
6%
0%
I am somewhat confident
32%
I am not confident at all
63%
Do not know
63%
Enterprise IT Pros
2%
2%
34%
62%
While 95% of all IT pros are some degree of confident that they could provide the guidance and expertise
necessary to help their company make informed, strategic business decisions with regard to emerging
technologies, only one-third are completely confident in that same endeavor (regardless of business size).
With emerging technologies creating greater infrastructure complexity, the role
of the IT professional has become even more sophisticated. How confident are
you that you could provide the guidance and expertise necessary to help your
company make informed, strategic business decisions with regard to emerging
technologies? (for example, provide a business case (business value/impact)
15
for a new IT idea/project within your area of responsibility)? [choose only one]

16. IT Pro Preparation & Empowerment for the “New IT”
Opportunity for IT Pro to Provide Guidance
for Strategic Business Decisions (Overall)
Small Business IT Pros
6% 1%
42% 51%
1%
10%
All the Time
39%
Mid-Size Business IT Pros
13%
0%
Occassionally
36%
51%
Rarely
51%
Never
Enterprise IT Pros
10%
1%
34%
54%
Almost every IT pro (99%) is given the opportunity to provide the guidance and expertise necessary to help
their company make informed, strategic business decisions with regard to emerging technologies; however, the
majority (61%) only have the opportunity to do so “occasionally” or “rarely”. By business size, as company size
increases, the opportunity to provide guidance “all the time” decreases slightly.
How often are you given the opportunity to provide the guidance and expertise
necessary to help your company make informed, strategic business decisions
with regard to emerging technologies? (for example, provide a business case
(business value/impact) for a new IT idea/project within your area of
responsibility)? [choose only one]
16

17. IT Pro Preparation & Empowerment for the “New IT”
Additional Skills Needed by IT Pros in order to Feel More Empowered
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
52%
55%
50%
52%
I would need more training in my area(s) of responsibility
37%
#1
80%
90%
100%
Overall
Small Bus
Mid-Size Bus
#2
23%
I would need a better understanding of the business
70%
Enterprise
35%
44%
24%
25%
25%
23%
I do not need anything else - I am confident I could do so today
I would need something else
7%
7%
10%
6%
Just over half of all IT pros surveyed indicate that they would need more training in their area(s) of
responsibility in order to feel more empowered to provide the guidance and expertise necessary to help their
business make informed, strategic decisions regarding emerging technologies. Almost 40% would need a better
understanding of the business, while one-fourth feel they need nothing else. As business size increases, so does
the percentage of IT pros needing a better understanding of the business. And for every small business IT pro
that needs a better understanding of the business, two small business IT pros need more training.
What else would you need to feel empowered within your organization to
provide the guidance and expertise necessary to help your business make
informed, strategic decisions regarding emerging technologies? [choose all
17
that apply, provided “other” fill in blank option as well]

18. IT Pro Preparation & Empowerment for the “New IT”
How IT Pros Define the “New IT” Environment
0%
10%
20%
Adopting cloud/SaaS + virtual networks/SDN
14%
13%
13%
End user-driven, self-service automation
10%
Broader partnership/better relationship with business
Increased agility/adaptability to innovation
7%
6%
Adopting cloud/SaaS + mobility
20%
22%
21%
18%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
#1
Overall
#2
100%
Mid-Size Bus
Small Bus
Enterprise
10%
13%
10%
9%
13%
9%
9%
Accessing info from any device, anywhere, anytime
30%
7%
9%
13%
5%
3%
4%
6%
One-fifth of all IT pros define the “New IT” environment as adopting cloud/SaaS AND virtual networks/SDN, while
another 13% consider “New IT” as end user-driven, self-service automation.
The “New IT” is a concept that is increasingly being discussed within the IT
industry, yet no standardized definition exists today. How would you
18
define the “new IT”? [fill in blank]