How To Future-Proof Your Business
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
In the constantly changing landscape of IT technologies, IT pros must be flexible and responsive to prepare for the future. Randy Muller of Global Knowledge Training has provided ten tips for future-proofing your business.
First, there will always be a need for application developers and programmers, and the current shortage of developers is only predicted to grow. Second, Big Data is king. To maximize the Big Data potential, add knowledge of Hadoop, MapReduce, NoSQL, and R, among others. Also consider the impact of mobility, which has created a demand for those who can support mobile devices and write applications for both iOS and Android devices.
Muller also recommends “integrating your current data center with cloud-based Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), and even Integration Platform-as-a-Service (iPaaS).”
The demand for virtualization skills is on the rise, as the power and capacity of virtualization platforms increases with the ability to host some of the virtual environment in the cloud. Knowledge of the more popular virtualization platforms will aid in future proofing.
Muller adds, don’t let yourself be siloed: don’t let your skillset become isolated and obsolete in this competitive market. Be sure to develop the breadth as well as the depth of your knowledge.
When it comes to project management, the most sought-after certification is the Project Management Professional (PMP) offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI), and PMP certification may open doors in the future.
Global Knowledge underscores the importance of training in information security, what Muller calls a “future-proof skill if there ever was one.” Since security is of critical concern to all who access information via computer, cloud, or other devices, those who can provide protection and security will remain in high demand.
Global Knowledge also recommends that you maintain the ability to “speak the language(s) of the other departments” and translate IT-speak into the language of the business world.