A look at network complexity, its drivers, needed skill sets, and levels of concern among IT professionals in Australia.

1. 1
IT Pros Survey: Australia
A look at network complexity, its drivers, needed skillset,
and levels of concern among IT professionals in Australia
Conducted by C White Consulting
May/June 2013

2. 2
Study Overview: areas of discussion
» What are the top drivers impacting network complexity?
» How concerned are IT pros about their ability to be
successful in regard to network complexity given their
existing skillset?
» How should any gaps in an IT pro’s network complexity
skillset be addressed both now and in the future?
For the purposes of this study, “network complexity” is defined as the continuously growing,
increasingly complicated nature of the network due to new technologies (such as SDN, virtualisation,
etc.) as well as the ever-increasing responsibilities placed on IT professionals from an IT operations
perspective (by supporting new service offerings such as cloud, mobility, etc.) and business operations
perspective (such as security or compliance)

3. 3
Demographics: breakdown of survey respondents
118 IT practitioners, managers and directors in Australia from public- and private-sector
small, mid-size and enterprise companies participated in a May/June 2013 online survey
15% 4%
18%
4%
10%
11%
12%
26%
Company Size
(number of employees)
25-49 FTEs
50-99 FTEs
100-249 FTEs
250-499 FTEs
500-999 FTEs
1000-1499 FTEs
1500-4999 FTEs
5000+ FTEs
40%
20%
11%
15%
9%
IT Pro’s Role
Practitioner
Manager
Director
IT Consultant
Other IT-related
36%
54%
10%
Public/Private Sector Split
Public Sector
Private Sector
It's Complicated

4. 4
Drivers that Impact
Network Complexity

5. 5
3.98
3.65
3.41
3.35
3.29
2.16
1 2 3 4 5
Compute virtualisation
Smarter equipment and/or more
complex equipment
Software Defined Networks
(SDN)/virtual networks
Vendor proliferation
Video conferencing/telepresence
National Broadband Network
(NBN)
Technology Drivers
A1: Please rank which of the following technologies increase network
complexity the most for the networks that you manage with “1” meaning “most
impactful to network complexity” and “5” meaning “least impactful to network
complexity”, using each number only once: [provided “other” fill-in blank
option and “N/A-do not use/manage” option as well]
Top Drivers Impacting Network Complexity
#1
#2
IT professionals surveyed indicated that compute virtualisation, followed by smarter equipment/more complex
equipment (for example, you used to need 3 pieces of equipment to do what a single piece of equipment can do
today) are the top two technology drivers increasing network complexity today.

6. 6
4.73
4.60
4.26
4.16
3.74
3.55
3.50
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Bring Your Own Device
(BYOD)
Mobility
Public cloud or Software as a
Service (SaaS)
Distributed workforce and/or
telecommuters/work-from-…
Video distribution and/or
video conferencing
Voice/Voice over Internet
Protocol (VoIP)
Private cloud
Drivers in IT Operations
A2: IT professionals are increasingly asked to take on additional
responsibilities as new IT service offerings emerge. Please rank which of the
following areas increase network complexity the most for the networks that
you manage with “1” meaning “most impactful to network complexity” and “7”
meaning “least impactful to network complexity”, using each number only
once: [provided “other” fill-in blank option and “N/A-do not use/manage”
option as well]
Top Drivers Impacting Network Complexity
#1
#2
IT professionals surveyed indicated that Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and mobility are the top two areas
within IT Operations impacting network complexity today.

7. 7
2.23
1.68
1.60
1 2 3
Security (for example, denial
of service (DoS)
attacks, Adobe vulnerabilities)
Auditing (for example, IT
audits due to PCI-DSS, EU
Data Protection
Directive, HIPAA and other…
Compliance (for
example, Payment Card
Industry-Data Security
Standard (PCI-…
Drivers in
Business Operations
A3: IT professionals are increasingly asked to take on additional
responsibilities as new business operations requirements emerge. Please rank
which of the following areas increase network complexity the most for the
networks that you manage with “1” meaning “most impactful to network
complexity” and “3” meaning “least impactful to network complexity”, using
each number only once: [provided “other” fill-in blank option and “N/A-do not
use/manage” option as well]
Top Drivers Impacting Network Complexity
#1
IT professionals surveyed indicated that security (for example, denial of service (DoS) attacks, Adobe
vulnerabilities) is the top Business Operations driver increasing network complexity today.

8. 8
IT Pro’s Level of Concern regarding
His/Her Network Complexity Skillset

9. 9
A3: Based on the definition of “network complexity” above, how much has
increased network complexity changed your IT role/responsibilities within the
last 3-5 years? [choose one: “it has greatly affected my
role/responsibilities”, “it has somewhat affected …”, “it has not affected …”, “do
not know”]
Level of Concern: IT Pro’s Network Complexity Skillset
Over 80% of IT professionals said network complexity has either somewhat affected or greatly affected
their role/responsibilities within the last 3-5 years.
29%
54%
14%
3%
Impact of Network Complexity on IT Role
in Last 3-5 Years
It has greatly affected my
role/responsibilities
It has somewhat affected
my role/responsibilities
It has not affected my
role/responsibilities
Do not know

10. 10
A4(b,c,e): How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following
statements? (please provide the degree to which you agree or disagree with
each statement by selecting from 1 (“do not agree at all”) to 10 (“agree
completely”): [provided “N/A” as well]
Level of Concern: IT Pro’s Network Complexity Skillset
IT professionals agree (moderately so) that their existing skillset has fully prepared them to deploy all the IT
network management solution(s) necessary to manage their company’s current complexity challenges. IT pros
also agree (slightly less so) that they are concerned regarding their ability to succeed given ever-increasing
responsibilities that directly impact network complexity.
5.35
5.84
5.84
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
With my existing skillset, I am concerned about my ability to succeed given
the new technologies (such as smarter equipment) and ever-increasing IT
operations (such as cloud) and business operations (such as compliance)
responsibilities I've been given, a
With my existing skillset, I am fully prepared to deploy all the IT network
management solution(s) necessary to manage our current network
complexity challenges.
IT professionals should have a "generalist" IT skillset (such as network)
rather than a "specialist" IT skillset (such as server/application).
(1 (“do not agree at all”)  10 (“agree completely”))
Do NC drivers hinder an IT Pro’s success given his/her existing skillset?

11. 11
A4(a,d): How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following
statements? (please provide the degree to which you agree or disagree with
each statement by selecting from 1 (“do not agree at all”) to 10 (“agree
completely”): [provided “N/A” as well]
Level of Concern: IT Pro’s Network Complexity Skillset
IT professionals agree (moderately so) that their company is prepared for growing network complexity
challenges, yet slightly less IT pros agree that they have already invested in all of the IT network management
solution(s) necessary to address current network complexity challenges.
5.35
6.04
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
My company has already invested in all of the IT network management
solution(s) necessary to address our current network complexity
challenges.
My company is prepared for our growing network complexity challenges.
(1 (“do not agree at all”)  10 (“agree completely”))
How confident are IT pros that their companies are prepared for
growing network complexity challenges?

12. 12
A9: What else does your company still need to do/obtain in order to be as
prepared as possible for growing network complexity? (please choose all that
apply) [provided “other” fill-in-the-blank response as well]
Level of Concern: IT Pro’s Network Complexity Skillset
Over 67% of IT professionals feel that their company still needs to train IT staff in order to be as prepared as
possible for growing network complexity, and 54% of IT pros feel their company needs to add network
management tools/software in order to do the same. Nearly 50% feel that their company needs to better
prioritise existing IT resources to be as prepared as possible for growing network complexity.
67.8%
54.2%
49.2%
45.8%
28.8%
8.5%
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Train IT staff
Add network management tools/SW
Better prioritize existing IT resources
Increase IT budget
Increase IT staff
Other
What else does an IT pro’s company still need to do/obtain in order to
be as prepared as possible for growing network complexity?

13. 13
Addressing Gaps in an IT Pro’s
Network Complexity Skillset

14. 14
A10: What is the single most important skill/skillset needed TODAY by IT
professionals to combat the challenges of network complexity? (please choose
only one) [provided “other” fill-in-the-blank response as well]
Addressing Gaps: IT Pro’s Network Complexity Skillset
Over one-third of all IT professionals feel that understanding of the business is the single most important
skillset needed today to combat the challenges of network complexity, followed at a considerable distance by
information security (12%), cloud/Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) (11%) and network engineering (10%).
35.9%
12.0%
11.1%
10.3%
8.5%
6.0%
6.0%
5.1%
5.1%
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Understanding of the business
Information security
Cloud or SaaS
Network engineering
Project management
Mobile applications and device management
Other
Compute virtualisation
Server management
The single most important skillset needed today by IT pros
to combat the challenges of network complexity:

15. 15
A5(a): How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following
statements? (please provide the degree to which you agree or disagree with
each statement by selecting from 1 (“do not agree at all”) to 10 (“agree
completely”): [provided “N/A” as well]
Addressing Gaps: IT Pro’s Network Complexity Skillset
Only 11% of IT professionals solidly agree that their higher education sufficiently prepared them for their
current IT role, with another 39% somewhat agreeing that their higher education sufficiently prepared them.
Another 30% of IT professionals are relatively undecided, and the remaining 15% believe that their higher
education did NOT sufficiently prepare them for their current IT role.
4.77
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
My higher education (university degree(s)
and/or vocational training) sufficiently
prepared me for my current IT role.
(1 (“do not agree at all”)  10 (“agree completely”))
Did higher education sufficiently prepare IT pros
for their current IT roles?

16. 16
A11: What will be the single most important skill/skillset needed IN FIVE YEARS
by IT professionals to combat the challenges of network complexity? (please
choose only one) [provided “other” fill-in-the-blank response as well]
Addressing Gaps: IT Pro’s Network Complexity Skillset
Cloud/Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) - today’s single most important skillset- remains on top when IT pros look
5 years into the future to determine what will be the single most important skillset needed to combat the future
challenges of network complexity. Understanding of the business surpasses information security as the second
and third (respectively) most important skillsets, while mobile applications/device management jumps up the
skillset radar as well. Network engineering falls from #4 today to the bottom of the list.
25.0%
21.6%
18.1%
14.7%
7.8%
6.0%
3.4%
2.6%
0.9%
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Cloud or SaaS
Understanding of the business
Information security
Mobile applications and device management
Project management
Other
Server management
Compute virtualisation
Network engineering
The single most important skillset needed in 5 years by IT pros
to combat the future challenges of network complexity:

17. 17
A7: If you did not already possess the single most important skill needed
TODAY to combat the challenges of network complexity, how would you
realistically go about obtaining it? (please choose all that apply) [provided
“other” fill-in-the-blank response as well]
Addressing Gaps: IT Pro’s Network Complexity Skillset
Over 58% of IT professionals would obtain training in order to gain necessary skills/certifications for combating
network complexity. Over 45% would increase their experience/expertise organically, and 44% would
participate in peer-to-peer learning such as forums and best practices.
58.1%
45.3%
43.6%
40.2%
32.5%
29.9%
22.2%
6.8%
3.4%
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Obtain training
Increase experience/expertise organically
Participate in peer-to-peer learning (such as…
Turn to online influencers/resources
Participate in vendor learning
Obtain certification
Participate in distance learning
Gain an/another university degree (undergraduate…
Other
Resources used for obtaining
any additional skills/certifications needed

18. 18
U4: What (if any) barriers have you encountered while trying to obtain network
management training (please think about the entire process – from gaining
approval to be trained through trying to complete the actual training)? [open-
ended/fill-in-the-blank]
Addressing Gaps: IT Pro’s Network Complexity Skillset
Nearly one-fourth of IT professionals consider finding the time to train a barrier to training, and slightly less
(23%) consider the approval process a barrier (primarily the time and energy needed to convince upper
management of the importance of training).
23.5%
22.6%
17.4%
13.9%
11.3%
7.0%
0.9%
0% 25% 50% 75% 100%
Time to train
Approval process
Budget
No barriers
Training content
Other
Travel restriction/ban
Barriers (if any) to network management training
Sampling of Noteworthy Open-Ended Responses
Time to Train: “managing work obligations to align with time
required for training”, “being overwhelmed with onsite work
levels”, “finding time to set aside for study”
Approval Process: “management [is not] understanding of the
need”, “convincing management [about] the requirement for
training”
Budget: “budget availability”, “budget constraints”, “budget
allocation not sufficient for training”, “cost”
Training Content: “finding the right course with the right
content to address my needs”, “finding appropriate, affordable
training”, “selecting the training that delivers what I want in
content”
Travel Restriction/Ban: “business freeze on training due to
economic environment”
Other: “training in different time zones (eg USA vs
Australia)”, “putting training into practise”

19. 19
A6(a,b,c): How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following
statements? (please provide the degree to which you agree or disagree with
each statement by selecting from 1 (“do not agree at all”) to 10 (“agree
completely”): [provided “N/A” as well]
Addressing Gaps: IT Pro’s Network Complexity Skillset
IT professionals show little agreement that the processes for gaining approval to participate in training or
scheduling a time to train on his/her own or with a third party are relatively painless. And IT pros show even less
agreement that most/all of their training for skills/certification takes place during work hours (rather than
before/after hours) with less than half (48%) in solid/somewhat agreement and nearly one-fourth (24%)
disagreeing completely.
5.00
5.02
4.58
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Gaining approval for me to participate in training (ie vendor
learning, distance learning, certifications, onsite training, offsite
training) is a relatively painless process within my company.
Scheduling a time for me to train (ie vendor training, distance
learning, certifications, onsite training, offsite training) on my own
or with a third party is a relatively painless process.
I undertake most/all of my training for needed skills/certification
during work hours.
(1 (“do not agree at all”)  10 (“agree completely”))
The Continuing Education Process

20. 20
A5(b,c,d): How much do you agree or disagree with each of the following
statements? (please provide the degree to which you agree or disagree with
each statement by selecting from 1 (“do not agree at all”) to 10 (“agree
completely”): [provided “N/A” as well]
Addressing Gaps: IT Pro’s Network Complexity Skillset
IT professionals show little agreement on whether today’s higher education is sufficiently preparing the next
generation of IT pros to meet tomorrow’s technology demands, yet show more agreement (moderately so) that
the amount of training required for graduates entering the IT workforce sufficiently prepares them for entry-level
positions. And IT pros agree to an even larger extent (though still moderately so) that graduates should have a
“generalist” IT skillset rather than a “specialist” IT skillset.
4.56
5.37
6.44
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Today's higher education (university degree(s) and/or vocational
training) is sufficiently preparing the next generation of IT
professionals to meet tomorrow's technology demands.
The amount of training required for university graduates and
vocational graduates entering the IT workforce sufficently prepares
them for entry-level positions.
University and vocational graduates should have a "generalist" IT
skillset (such as network) rather than a "specialist" IT skillset (such
as server/application).
(1 (“do not agree at all”)  10 (“agree completely”))
Today’s Educational Standards and Tomorrow’s IT Professionals