Redefining IT’s Organizational Influence
New ways of working have put IT in the spotlight and raised stakes when it comes to cybersecurity. It’s time to give CIOs a prime seat at the decision table.
From remote setups to return-to-office mandates, the new model of work requires adaptability and versatility to not just operate, but thrive, across settings and functions. Of all departments, however, these shifts have had the greatest impact on IT.
At the outset of the pandemic, CIOs and their teams rushed to implement infrastructure that would support the new remote work ecosystem. That meant new software, platforms, and security measures to keep things running smoothly and safely. Now, IT teams must strike a balance between leaning on traditional models and tapping into new behaviors and innovations to support changing business needs and drive transformation.
It’s undeniable that digital infrastructure has become a top determinant of company success -- it impacts the performance of every department and, in turn, the bottom line. Today, amid increased competition, rising security threats, and brand-new ways of working, IT deserves a prime seat in organizations’ leadership benches and decision-making processes.
Hybrid Work and Enabling the Best of Both Worlds
For the majority of companies (and workers), it’s become clear that hybrid work is now the norm. A 2022 survey from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans found that 74% of employers planned to implement permanent hybrid work, with a blend of in-person and remote workdays. That puts more pressure on IT teams to instill efficient practices and prepare for a wider range of scenarios.
Essentially, while companies and their workers have found hybrid settings to be an agreeable middle ground, it’s up to IT departments to make both extremes -- remote and in-person work -- possible. A major part of this is choosing and maintaining the right mix of tools and flexible IT support options to ensure that employees don’t experience any tradeoffs when working in different settings. Although IT might be an afterthought for many employees, seamless maintenance that empowers flexibility is highly valued and the mark of an effective department in today’s corporate world.
On a wider scale, enabling hybrid work affects the talent that companies can attract and the revenue that they can bring in. Employees and customers are less willing to deal with friction, and if competitors can offer a smoother experience, companies risk losing out on talent and sales. With such a massive effect on the viability of hybrid work, IT teams need to be active participants in conversations around work formats and be able to communicate issues or concerns to other decision-makers who might otherwise overlook them.