Survey: IT Professionals Expect the Internet of Things to Significantly Impact the Workplace

AUSTIN, TX--(Marketwired - Jun 4, 2014) -  Spiceworks, the professional network for IT, today announced the results of a new report that explores IT professionals' perceptions of the Internet of Things (IoT), steps they're taking to prepare, and how they believe it will impact their environment. The study "The Devices are Coming!" found that while 71 percent of IT professionals believe IoT will affect both consumers and the workplace, 59 percent are not actively preparing for the impact it could have on their business. The independent study was sponsored by Cox Business, a facilities-based provider of voice, video and data solutions.

IT professionals surveyed acknowledge the IoT is already materializing within the workplace, from employee-owned wearable devices to network-connected video equipment, electronic peripherals, and building sensors and controllers. Although more than half of survey respondents are not currently preparing, almost 30 percent are. According to the survey, 68 percent of those preparing for the IoT are investing in hardware infrastructure, 63 percent are purchasing security solutions, and 55 percent are expanding bandwidth to accommodate Internet-connected "things."

Additionally, 68 percent of IT professionals now support two or more devices per employee, and 61 percent of respondents expect the number of supported devices to grow in the next five years. This acceleration of Internet-connected devices in the workplace will have a dramatic impact on how IT professionals manage the devices in their network. Forty-three percent of IT professionals will assign a separate network for these devices while 23 percent anticipate putting them on the corporate network. More than a quarter of respondents don't know how they'll manage the influx of new connected "things." 

"The data technology trends we've seen emerge over the past few years, like BYOD, coupled with the IoT will have a dramatic impact on how IT professionals do their jobs," said Kathryn Pribish, Voice of IT program manager at Spiceworks. "IT professionals understand the inevitability of the IoT but the reality is, though the impact will be gradual, resource-strained IT departments and others who haven't jumped on the IoT bandwagon will be playing catch-up if they don't adequately prepare."

Methodology
The survey was conducted in April 2014 and included more than 440 respondents. Sixty-two percent of respondents were from North America and 38 percent were from EMEA. Respondents represented a variety of industries including manufacturing, healthcare, education, government, finance and IT service providers.

About Spiceworks Voice of IT
The Spiceworks Voice of IT market insights program publishes statistics, trends and opinions collected from IT professionals worldwide. More than 620,000 IT professionals in over 100 countries have joined the program to share information and feedback on the technology issues important to them.

About Spiceworks
Spiceworks is the professional network more than 5 million IT professionals use to connect with one another and over 3,000 technology brands. The company simplifies how IT professionals discover, buy and manage more than $550 billion in technology products and services each year. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Spiceworks is backed by Adams Street Partners, Austin Ventures, Institutional Venture Partners (IVP), Goldman Sachs, Shasta Ventures and Tenaya Capital. For more information visit http://www.spiceworks.com.

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