CompTIA conducted a study on technology adoption and workforce issues in Canada, highlighting business IT priorities and skills gaps among executives. Key findings include a significant emphasis on IT security, with many businesses experiencing skills gaps that affect productivity and customer service. Additionally, a majority of Canadian executives anticipate an increase in the importance of IT certifications and training in the upcoming years.

1. International Technology Adoption
& Workforce Issues Study
Summary for Canada

2. About this Research
CompTIA’s International Technology Adoption and Workforce Issues study was conducted to collect and share information on technology adoption and
workforce trends across several countries. The objectives of this research include:
• Explore business and information technology (IT) priorities among organizations
• Examine the usage of key technologies/solutions and IT services such as security and cloud computing
• Identify which IT skills are most important to employers and if there are any skills gap issues or staffing concerns
• Evaluate professional development practices such as training and certification
The data for this study was collected via a quantitative online survey conducted February 22 to March 23, 2013 among 1,256 IT and business executives
directly involved in setting or executing information technology policies and processes within their organizations. The 10 countries covered in this study
include:
Brazil (n=125); Canada (n=125); France (n=125); Germany (n=131); Japan (n=125); India (n=125); Mexico (n=125); Middle East Subset (Oman, Saudi
Arabia, United Arab Emirates) (n=125); Thailand (n=125); United Kingdom (n=125)
Surveys were localized and translated to allow respondents to participate in their native language. Additionally, precautions were taken to minimize
misinterpretations of questions. However, research has shown, cultural differences exist and can affect responses to certain question types, such as 5-
point satisfaction rating questions. Viewers of this report should keep that in mind when comparing results across countries.
The margin of sampling error at 95% confidence for aggregate results is +/- 2.8 percentage points. Sampling error is larger for subgroups of the data,
such as individual countries where it is +/- 8.9 percentage points. As with any survey, sampling error is only one source of possible error. While non-
sampling error cannot be accurately calculated, precautionary steps were taken in all phases of the survey design, collection and processing of the data
to minimize its influence. Note: because data collection occurred via an online survey, in countries where Internet penetration is lower among
businesses, the non-sampling error could be higher.
CompTIA is responsible for all content contained in this series. Any questions regarding the study should be directed to CompTIA Market Research staff
at research@comptia.org.
CompTIA is a member of the Marketing Research Association (MRA) and adheres to the MRA’s Code of Market Research Ethics and Standards.

3. Key IT Priorities for Canadian Businesses:
1. IT security
2. Web/online presence/e-commerce
3. Updating aging computers/software
4. Data storage/back-up
5. Mobility related initiatives
Key Summary Points: Canada
Key Stats for Canada
$41,500 GDP per capita (PPP) | world rank: 24th
1.46% GDP growth forecast for 2013
58%
% of Canadian executives expecting 2013 business
conditions to be better than 2012
18.8m Total workforce
76% % of workforce employed in the services sector
0.426m Estimate of IT workforce* in core IT occupations
35%
% of Canadian executives expecting to increase IT
staff headcount at their business in 2013
26.96m Internet users | world rank: 16th
27.38m Mobile phone users | world rank: 37th
80%
NET % of Canadian executives indicating IT is
important to the success of their business
4.6% Planned increase in IT spending in 2013 (YOY)
Key Strategic Priorities for Canadian Businesses:
1. Reduce costs/overhead
2. Reach new customers
3. Improve staff productivity/capabilities
Cybersecurity:
59% of Canadian executives believe the cybersecurity threat level is
increasing. Additionally, 38% of Canadian executives believe human
error is a growing factor in security security incidents: Top human error
related factors include:
1. Increased use of social media by staff
2. Failure of end-users to follow security procedures and policies
IT Skills Gaps:
90% of Canadian executives indicate at least some degree of gaps in IT
skills at their business exists. For 39%, the reported skills gaps are
small, while for 50% the gaps are more extensive. Top negative effects
of IT skills gaps at Thai businesses:
1. Lower staff productivity
2. Poor customer service
IT Training and Certification:
90% of IT staff at Canadian businesses engaged in some type of IT
training during the past 12 months.
1. 60% of Canadian executives believe IT certifications will increase in
importance over the next two years; 36% believe IT certifications’
importance will remain constant
2. 73% of Canadian executives believe it’s important to test after
training to confirm knowledge gains
Sources used for above stats: CompTIA, IMF, CIA World Factbook, IDC
*See appendix for definition of core IT occupations

4. Detailed Findings: Business
and Technology Issues

5. Strategic Priorities Include Tech Component
Base: 1,244 business and IT executives from Brazil, Canada, France,
Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Middle East, Thailand and the UK
Source: CompTIA International Technology Adoption and Workforce Issues study
20%
76%
16%
80%
Overall
Canada
Top Strategic Priorities Among
Canadian Businesses for 2013
NET
Unimportant
NET
Important
Neutral
1. Reduce costs/overhead
2. Reach new customers
3. Improve staff productivity/capabilities
4. Innovate more effectively
5. Leverage technology to improve business
operations
58% of Canadian executives in this CompTIA
survey say business conditions are improving
and expect 2013 to be better than 2012.
75% expect to increase their expenditure on
IT products and services over the next 12
months.
Importance of Technology to Canadian
Business Success Trends Upwards

6. Many Businesses Seek to Improve Their Use of IT
0%
6%
49%
36%
10%
Not at all close
Not that close
Moderately close
Very close
Exactly where
want to be
Degree to Which Canadian
Businesses are “Where They Want
to Be” in Technology Utilization
• IT security
• Web/online presence/e-commerce
• Updating aging computers/software
• Data storage/back-up
• Mobility related initiatives
• Network infrastructure
• Automating business processes through
technology
• Disaster recovery/business continuity
• Telecommunications
Top Technology Priorities Over Next 12
Months for Canadian Businesses
Base: 125 Canadian business and IT executives
Source: CompTIA International Technology Adoption and Workforce Issues study

7. More than Half of Canadian Businesses have
Adopted Cloud Computing to Some Degree
22% 21%
39%
17%
27%
19%
39%
14%
Overall
Canada
Key Hurdles to Cloud Adoption
for Canadian Businesses
Cloud Computing Adoption Stage
Full use
stage
Experi-
mentation
stage
Evalu-
ation or
Investi-
gation
stage
Basic
aware-
ness
stage
47% Security or data loss concerns
39% Challenges in developing staff expertise/
experience with cloud applications/solutions
38% Insufficient/unclear ROI
32% Cloud services still unproven/untested
30% Unclear/costly government regulation
25% Difficulty in integrating/migrating legacy
applications to the cloud
21% Lack of local cloud service providers
17% Slow/unreliable internet access
Base: 1,252 business and IT executives from Brazil, Canada, France,
Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Middle East, Thailand and the UK
Source: CompTIA International Technology Adoption and Workforce Issues study

8. Cybersecurity Risks a Growing Concern
1%
2%
27%
44%
26%
0%
2%
39%
42% 53%
Decreasing
significantly
Decreasing
moderately
No change
Increasing
moderately
Increasing
significantly
Canada
Overall
17
Overall, 59% of Canadian Businesses
Believe the Security Threat Level
has Increased during Past Two Years
• Greater interconnectivity of devices, systems
• Rise of social networking
• Growing criminalization and organization of
hackers motivated by financial gain
• Greater availability of easy-to-use hacking
tools, allowing more individuals to engage in
hacking
• More reliance on Internet-based
applications, i.e. cloud computing, software-as-
a-service
• Sophistication of security threats exceeding IT
staff's expertise to thwart them
• Volume of security threats exceeding capacity
to thwart them
Top Factors Cited by Canadian
Businesses for Increasing Security Risks
Base: 1,256 business and IT executives from Brazil, Canada, France,
Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Middle East, Thailand and the UK
Source: CompTIA International Technology Adoption and Workforce Issues study
39%

9. Human Error is Still a Security Risk Factor
62%
38%
NET increase in human
error as a security risk
factor
NET no change or
decrease in human
error as a security
factor
Top Drivers of Human Error as an
Rising Security Risk FactorAssessment of Human Error as
a Security Risk Factor
• Increased use of social media by staff
• Failure of end-users to follow security
procedures and policies
• General negligence / carelessness towards
security
• Lack of security expertise with websites and
applications
• Failure of IT staff to follow security procedures
and policies
• Inadequate resources - not enough IT staff time
to manage security threats
• Lack of security expertise with
networks, servers and other infrastructure
Base: 125 Canadian business and IT executives
Source: CompTIA International Technology Adoption and Workforce Issues study

10. Detailed Findings: IT Training
and Certification Issues

11. 1 in 3 Canadian Businesses Plan to Hire IT Staff in
2013; Most Expect Challenges in Finding Workers
5%
56%
39%
6%
60%
35%
Decrease in IT staff No… Increase in IT staff
Overall
Canada
39%
61%
NET concerned
about IT labor
quantity or quality
NET not that
concerned about
IT labor quantity
or quality
Concern Over Ability to Hire IT Staff2013 Hiring Intent for IT Staff
Base: 1,252 business and IT executives from Brazil, Canada, France,
Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Middle East, Thailand and the UK
Source: CompTIA International Technology Adoption and Workforce Issues study

12. Most Businesses Seek Improvement
on the IT Skills Front
1%
7%
42%
39%
10%
Not at all close
Not that close
Moderately close
Very close
Exactly where
want to be
Assessment of how Close
Canadian Businesses are to
Where They Want to be with the
IT Skills of Their IT Staff 38% Lower staff productivity
30% Poor customer service/customer
engagement
26% Ineffective innovation/new
product development
26% Ineffective security/defending
against malware
22% Speed to market with new
products or services
19% Lower sales/profitability
Top Negative Impacts of IT Skills Gaps
Base: 125 Canadian business and IT executives
Source: CompTIA International Technology Adoption and Workforce Issues study

13. IT Skills Rating Among Canadian Businesses
1. Teamwork
2. Customer service
3. Strong work ethic
4. Motivation/initiative
5. Flexibility and adaptability
6. Project management
7. Verbal and written communication skills
8. Analytical skills
9. Innovation / Creative problem solving
Top Rated “Soft” IT Skills
1. Networks / Infrastructure
2. Server / data center management
3. Storage / data back-up
4. Database/information management
5. Data analytics / Business intelligence
6. Help Desk / IT support
7. Printers, copiers, multifunction devices
8. Security/cybersecurity
9. Customer relationship management
10. Telecommunications
11. Mobile phones/smartphones
Top Rated IT Skills in Terms of
the Importance of Maintaining a
High Skill Level Among IT staff
Keep in mind, many emerging technologies, such as cloud or mobility, are important to businesses, but it may not yet be the highest
priority to ensure a high level of IT staff expertise. As businesses move along the adoption curve and engage in more advanced uses of
cloud and mobility, staff expertise in those areas increases. Additionally, in some areas such as security, businesses may rely on outside
experts for guidance, so building internal skills could be a lower priority.
Base: 125 Canadian business and IT executives
Source: CompTIA International Technology Adoption and Workforce Issues study

14. Types of Training/Education Utilized
by IT Staff in Past 12 Months
11%
8%
30%
24%
40%
23%
38%
45%
10%
3%
41%
23%
49%
23%
36%
40%
No training or education
Some other type of training
Webinars / Online presentation
from an instructor or expert
Reading industry news, technical journals, etc.
E-learning / Online self-directed training
Additional college coursework
Attending industry conferences, workshops, etc.
Training course with an instructor /
Classroom instruction
Canada
Overall
Base: 1,256 business and IT executives from Brazil, Canada, France,
Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Middle East, Thailand and the UK
Source: CompTIA International Technology Adoption and Workforce Issues study

15. Policy Towards the Use of IT Certifications
21%
37%
34%
25%
41%
28%
No formal or informal position
towards the use of IT certifications
Informal – not required,
but valued and encouraged
Formal – IT certifications
required for certain IT staff
Canada
Overall
Base: 1,241 business and IT executives from Brazil, Canada, France,
Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Middle East, Thailand and the UK
Source: CompTIA International Technology Adoption and Workforce Issues study

16. Majority of Canadian Businesses Expect IT
Certifications to Increase in Importance
Significant
Increase in
Importance
Increase in
Importance
NET
Decrease
NET
Increase in
Importance
No
Change
73% “It’s important to test after training to
confirm knowledge gains”
63% “Teams of staff with IT certifications
benefit from having a common foundation
of knowledge”
62% “Staff with IT certifications have proven
expertise”
54% “Staff holding IT certifications are more
valuable to the organization”
NET Agreement (agree +
strongly agree) to Statements
Expectations for Change in
Importance of IT Certifications
Over Next Two Years
Base: 125 Canadian business and IT executives
Source: CompTIA International Technology Adoption and Workforce Issues study
36%
44%
16%

17. Canadian Businesses are Much More Likely to Agree
to Statements About IT Certifications Than Disagree
11%
12%
18%
12%
10%
5%
4%
38%
32%
38%
41%
26%
29%
21%
48%
54%
40%
44%
62%
63%
73%
The organization is more secure from malware
and hackers due to staff with IT certifications
Staff holding IT certifications are
more valuable to the organization
Retention is higher among staff with IT
certifications than non-certified staff
Staff with IT certifications perform at a
higher level than non-certified staff
Staff with IT certifications have proven expertise
Teams of staff with IT certifications benefit from
having a common foundation of knowledge
It’s important to test after training
to confirm knowledge gains
NET Disagree Neutral NET Agree
Base: 125 Canadian business and IT executives
Source: CompTIA International Technology Adoption and Workforce Issues study

18. Appendix

19. U.S. Member Profile
19
Respondent Profile
18%
Information Technology (IT) (e.g. hardware, software, IT
services, consulting, reseller, telecom, distributor)
12% Manufacturing (other than IT related)
11% Professional services (other than IT related)
10% Retail/Wholesale (other than IT related)
6% Healthcare/Medical
6% Financial/Banking/Insurance
2% Media/Publishing/Entertainment
7% Government (federal, state, local)
5%
AMTUC (Agriculture, Mining, Transportation, Utilities,
Construction)
8% Education
3% Hospitality
13% Other industry
Primary Industry
6% 1 – 4 employees
5% 5 – 9
11% 10 – 49
17% 50 – 99
31% 100 – 499
14% 500 – 999
16% 1,000 or more employees
Staff Size
Base: 1,256 business and IT executives from Brazil, Canada, France,
Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Middle East, Thailand and the UK
14%
Executive Management (CEO, President, Managing Director,
Owner, etc.)
16%
Senior Management – IT function (CIO, CSO, VP of IT-related
function, etc.)
20%
Middle Management – IT function (Director, Manager,
Team Leader etc.)
12% Staff level – IT function
7%
Senior Management – business function (CFO, VP, GM of
business function)
18%
Middle Management – business function (Director,
Manager, Team Leader etc.)
8% Staff level – business function
2% Business Consultant
3% IT Consultant
Job Role
95% Setting or influencing technology-related strategies*
94%
Installing or managing hardware, software, communications
and other technology*
94%
Purchasing or working with vendors, providers or
consultants of technology products and services*
82% Hiring or managing IT staff
Involvement in Tech (NET very + somewhat involved)
*To qualify for the survey, respondents had to be very involved or somewhat involved in
at least two of these areas, with the majority of respondents being very involved.
Note: A mix of industries, company sizes, and job roles
were targeted for this study.

20. Defining Core IT Occupations
• Computer Support Specialists
• Software Developers, Applications
• Computer Systems Analysts
• Software Developers, Systems Software
• Network and Computer Systems Administrators
• Computer Programmers
• Computer and Information Systems Managers
• Information Security Analysts, Web Dev., and Computer Network Architects
• Computer Occupations, All Other
• Database Administrators
• Computer Hardware Engineers
• Computer and Information Research Scientists
• Computer Support Specialists
For the purposes of this study, core IT occupations include positions related to the list below. In this study, certain
telecommunications occupations were excluded, such as positions responsible for installing or maintaining cellular
towers. Additionally, this study excludes ‘knowledge worker’ type positions, such as technical writer, graphic
designer or business analyst.

21. comptia.org
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