Most IT leaders say their top technology challenges are a lack of skillsets and a shortage of staff, according to Foundry’s 2023 CIO Tech Priorities Study.
Unfortunately, there seems to be little relief in sight. The International Monetary Fund, for example, predicts a global shortage of 85 million tech workers by 2030. And then there are the cybersecurity skills shortages. The ISC2 2022 Cybersecurity Workforce Study found that the cybersecurity workforce gap has increased by 26% compared to 2021, with 3.4 million more workers needed to secure critical business assets.
Yet, business pressures on IT teams won’t slow or stop. The regulatory and security threat landscapes continue to evolve and place heavy demands on IT organizations. In addition, enterprises must continue to modernize, innovate, and simply manage the IT and security systems they have.
It’s a lot to tackle, which is why organizations are increasingly turning to third-party partners and service providers for help. In fact, spending just for managed security services is expected to reach $42 billion this year, according to IDC.
With so much at stake, it’s important to work with a partner who not only understands your business but who will also continue to support you as new challenges come along.
Look at the whole IT picture
“First, think about how to use your budget wisely,” said Simon Leech, deputy director, Center of Excellence, Cybersecurity and Digital Risk Management at HPE.
One way to do that: Choose a partner who is fully staffed to support today’s and tomorrow’s requirements — because needs change.
Many third-party managed service providers (MSPs) focus on a specific area, such as cybersecurity. But you may need support across multiple functions, such as risk assessment, hybrid cloud transformation, compliance, and general IT management.
Also, remember that one function or capability will likely touch other areas of the IT organization. For example, an MSP may treat cybersecurity in isolation, not considering changes that will impact your overall architecture.
“Make sure your partner is able to look beyond point products and help you protect the entire IT environment, including hybrid cloud,” Leech said.
If you’re struggling to determine where to start, a risk analysis can help you understand your critical business processes. It will also help identify where to focus existing resources and which areas need outside reinforcements.
Seek a partner who’s got your back
No business can anticipate every new regulation, staff change, or cyberattack. But you can feel confident that if an incident occurs or you lose key IT staff members, your partner can step up and help protect your business-critical data and apps.
HPE Managed Services can support your IT organization wherever you most need it. With expert teams of service professionals across the world, HPE Managed Services can serve as an extension of your existing IT department and provide:
- Infrastructure security
- The ability to meet compliance requirements more quickly
- Remote monitoring and operations
- Advice and strategy on continuous improvements
- Capabilities and support to expand to hybrid cloud
Get through IT security skills shortages with the help of an experienced partner who has your back, no matter what tomorrow brings.
Visit hpe.com/security for more information.