Three big reasons for a dramatic change of mindset…
UK companies face a major shortfall in IT skills. It could be costing the economy around £60 billion a year, the Government says.
Bad news for every department needing basic digital capabilities to improve their performance. For inhouse IT teams the skills gap could spell disaster.
Inhouse IT teams are grappling with new challenges each day, trying to keep on top of ever more complex tech environments. Worryingly, some skills shortages are in key technologies like AI, cloud and cybersecurity where IT support is now business critical.
So what’s the way out?
No easy answers
IT managers are doing their best to deal with the skills gap challenge.
Training helps boost current levels of proficiency. Peer learning encourages knowledge transfer within the team.
Workload management can optimise IT resources. Resetting staff expectations will keep up morale and make sure valuable young talent is not lost for the future.
Freshly reviewed hiring strategies mean applicants with aptitude are much more in demand. They might not have required skills for a particular vacancy when they join, but skills can be developed through inhouse training and hands on experience.
Initiatives like these help minimise the impact of skills shortages. But the real solution requires a whole new mindset for IT support.
Three key factors make that dramatic change imperative.
1. Skills shortages are here to stay
Skills shortfalls are often blamed on the new demands of fast emerging technologies. The big mistake is thinking training institutions and the labour market will eventually catch up with trends, and skill levels will recover.
But key technologies like AI, cybersecurity and cloud won’t stand still. They’ll keep evolving, setting the skills bar higher and higher for the inhouse team. And other technologies will emerge of course, widening the gap still further between inhouse capabilities and the expertise needed to support the business in future.
The message is clear. IT services today and tomorrow are no longer about fixing computers, updating software and resolving help desk tickets. Your organisation needs to manage a diverse technology environment effectively, efficiently, scalably, and securely. But have you got the budget or resources to build an inhouse IT department equipped to do it?
2. Partner up for the support you need
The best answer to the IT skills gap? Find a partner with the capabilities you need and cut the cost and uncertainty of hiring in-house.
In the past, your IT department could expect to manage your tech estate with a range of generic skills. Managed service providers like Kubus have experts who stay updated on the latest technology and business innovations. They have specialist knowhow that can only be acquired at scale to meet your unique challenges.
Those experts ensure your systems remain modern and secure and help you leverage your tech assets as a competitive advantage, while your team focuses on delivering outcomes.
Take for example the technology at the core of modern organisations, your network. It’s probably bursting with new devices, data traffic is surging, and user experience is at a tipping point.
With Kubus’s Network Monitoring service, you gain access to a UK-based team of in-house experts who proactively monitor your network and its security 24/7/365 to keep you connected.
We help you stay ahead of cyber threats, too. Identifying and patching vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, reducing your risk of attack. We make sure threats, such as ransomware and phishing, are addressed quickly and efficiently, minimising the impact and enhancing your overall security.
In fact, we’ll help you take on all the big tech challenges of today and tomorrow. Your cloud strategy is fundamental to your organisation’s success. And so is data management, back up and disaster recovery, application support, and the special regulatory compliance requirements for your sector.
Today, support for increasingly diverse technologies demands a level of knowledge and experience. Managed service providers like Kubus are aggregating their expertise with each client engagement. And you are the beneficiary.
3. Leverage human skills with the right toolkit
If only human skills were all you had to worry about! They’re not. You also need access to the best software tools that enhance and secure your IT performance. And you need to partner with the people who can make those tools work best for you.
Let’s go back to networking. Monitoring performance is vital of course to keep on top of real time incidents. But wouldn’t it be great to be able to detect, diagnose, and resolve network problems before your users even know they exist? And to do it cost-effectively, scalably, and securely?
AI makes that dream a reality. HPE Juniper’s AI-native networking platform, Mist, is at the forefront of a revolution in network management with more than ten years of data science at its core. As an Elite Plus Partner Assured, Kubus pairs HPE’s innovation with our own network experience and long‑term support to give you a holistic solution designed for your needs.
Similar relationships with proprietors of other leading software tools add value to your Kubus partnership across many key technologies: cloud integrated environments, data infrastructure, disaster recovery and security and threat management, for example.
So your IT skills gap is a worry. But don’t let worry define your future. Recognise that the changing tech landscape sets a new set of challenges and opportunities for your IT management and your team. Dare to think differently about the future.
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