Australian CIOs are generally optimistic despite challenging times, according to the first Insights Quarterly report, commissioned by Fujitsu and Microsoft Australia.
Surveying 200 Australian CIOs, the report showed that alignment of ICT with business aims remains their primary objective. Many of the CIOs noted that business issues are often stronger drivers than technology issues in the Australian landscape, with business requirements taking precedence over technology.
Almost half (46.2 per cent) saw these changing requirements as the most difficult challenge, ahead of protecting and securing the network, optimising and controlling costs, and improving service responsiveness.
Virtualisation is shaping up to be the most relevant future technology, nominated by two-thirds of CIOs, followed by integrated enterprise-wide access, with 42.5 per cent saying it was of high interest, highlighting the importance placed on improved access to information.
Business intelligence remains an area of significant investment, and while cloud computing was named as one of the most important technologies, it was also regarded as “overhyped”. However cloud remains attractive from the CIOs’ perspective due to its ability to move ICT from capital expenditure to operational expenditure, coupled with flexibility.
Other current challenges for CIOs include the trend towards ‘Bring Your Own Device’, and managing security across a more diverse and distributed network. Interestingly, few CIOs currently regard social media as important, and while sustainability issues are on the radar, they are not attracting a great deal of interest or investment.
The research was conducted by independent research firm Connection Research, with the findings available free at www.insightsquarterly.com.au.
