| Lately, the IT crystal ball has offered little
other than dire predictions for the coming year, leaving solution providers
with a seemingly bleak outlook for 2009. As December began, for example,
Forrester Research downgraded its prediction for growth in information
technology spending next year from an already anemic 6.1 percent to a
paltry 1.6 percent for 2009. In fact, the Cambridge, Mass.-based research
firm believes that the U.S. real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will decline
during the first half of the year and will rally only weakly in the second
half.
There's opportunity, though, for IT providers willing to maintain a laser
focus on markets that provide a better chance of success. Technologies,
such as storage, that support the most important day-to-day work of companies
and keep their businesses strong remain on the menu for most customers.
For example, The InfoPro (TIP), a research firm in New York, reported
that one third of all organizations are considering a backup redesign.
Security, especially for solution providers working with small business
customers, also will continue to grow. In fact, more than 21 percent of
security decision makers expect to increase their IT security budgets
in 2009, according to the Forrester Business Data Services survey, which
polled more than 1,200 North American enterprise and SMB security professionals.
Security will make up 10 percent of overall IT operating budgets next
year, up from eight percent last year, the survey found.
Good for the earth technology solutions offer another opportunity for
solution providers to shine with customers trying to conserve energy,
save money and save the world. Helping customers make their green IT initiatives
offers opportunity to sell both products and services.
Managed services, meanwhile, provide another excellent opportunity for
growth and economic stability for SPs hoping to create a consistent revenue
stream. Small business customers are flocking to a service-based model
for IT services in hopes of steadying technology costs and maintaining
business-critical IT infrastructure without the headaches of maintaining
on-site IT personnel.
By bringing the right technologies to customers, solution providers have
the opportunity maintain good growth even in the face of a down market.
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