Why IT should be a priority in 2023

IT has gone through a lot of changes in recent years, and experts predict that trend will continue in 2023. According to Gartner, “Worldwide IT spending is projected to total $4.6 trillion in 2023, an increase of 5.1% from 2022.”  

Digital initiatives are a big focus in 2023, and if those stats don’t motivate you, here are some reasons why IT should be a priority for this upcoming year: 

Your IT Abilities Define How You Work 

When COVID-19 first hit, the companies that couldn’t make the shift to a remote or hybrid structure felt the stress more than others. Companies that had the IT infrastructure to support this transition were able to continue operations, and feel the effects less than companies that were stuck on-prem.  

That is still true now. Your organization is only as strong as your IT abilities. If your IT infrastructure can’t support changes, then you won’t be able to enact them, and that means less progress, innovation, and—at the end of the day—revenue.  

If your IT infrastructure is primarily on-prem, make sure you have a sturdy BCDR plan so you’re prepared for events that may take off-prem down the line. If you’re a remote organization, make sure you have the necessary IT staff to provide the help your staff needs. Whether it’s a login issue or the entire system is down, you need to ensure that your staff has the help they need, when they need it.  

Strong IT Infrastructure is Strong Security 

With all of recent data breaches and hacking incidents in the news, improving security is a key goal for many organizations. In fact, in Red Hat’s most recent survey, the 2023 Global Tech Outlook, 44% of respondents said that IT security was a top three priority this year.  

A strong IT infrastructure is a secure one. In times of global turmoil and inflation, it’s important to ensure that you have a fool-proof strategy. If your software, applications, or devices are not updated or generally maintained, you will be open to more risks, and subsequent downtime. If you prioritize IT infrastructure and put time and effort into managing it, you will not only have a tighter strategy security-wise, but also a more profitable organization. 

The Cloud Drives Innovation 

The cloud is the future and yet another reason that IT should be a priority this year. If you’ve already completed a migration, that doesn’t mean your work is done. Optimizing your strategy should always be a part of your yearly IT goals, whether you’re focusing on reducing spend, addressing the limitations of your provider, or creating specific integrations. 

If your organization is primarily on-prem, make migrating to the cloud your priority. While it can be an overwhelming task at first, it’s much more approachable when you break it into specific steps. Start by determining your needs, and then move through the rest of the process, choosing a provider, implementation plan, and maintenance plan. If you need a partner to help you along your cloud process, we’re happy to help.  

The cloud offers more storage, functionality, and opens the door to more opportunity. With a strong cloud strategy, you can implement new technologies that can help you innovate and solve key tech challenges. Organizations that are able to implement the newest tools—which are often cloud-based—can reap more benefits and improve efficiency.  

How will you manage IT spend in 2023? Get ready to embrace new technologies, capabilities, and innovations. If you need help creating your IT roadmap, contact us today.