Most end users (63 percent) agree that IT has a greater impact on their daily work lives than the C-suite, according to SolarWinds’ IT Pro Value Surveys. Other key findings include:

IT Pro Value Survey: The North American End User’s Perspective

■ Nearly three-quarters of end users (67 percent) place greater importance on the technology supported by IT professionals in the workplace­ such as phones, computers and software­ than they do on personnel.

■ Three out of five end users (63 percent) indicate work productivity is lost without the technology supported by IT professionals, with one-third (32 percent) saying one day’s work would take an additional business day or longer to complete without said technology and 15 percent saying it would not at all be possible to carry out their daily work without it.

IT Pro Value Survey: The Global IT Professional’s Perspective

■ Three out of five IT professionals (62 percent) feel at most moderately valued by their employer for their unique contribution to business, with more than one-quarter (27 percent) feeling only slightly to not at all valued.

■ Four out of five IT professionals (83 percent) feel they are worth more than they are currently compensated, with one-third (35 percent) saying they feel worth at least 21 percent more.

■ The majority of IT professionals (61 percent) are concerned about job security, with almost half (42 percent) suggesting company leadership not understanding the importance of IT as a key reason why.

“The survey results demonstrate that business leaders and end users can do a lot more to show IT pros how appreciative they are of the value they provide to business,” said Kevin Thompson, President and CEO of SolarWinds. “The technology we rely on to keep business running smoothly is absolutely critical to success, but the level of recognition and reward IT pros receive for the part they play in enabling and supporting it may not match it. IT Professionals Day is a great way to start leveling that.”

IT Professionals Day

SolarWinds’ IT Pro Value Surveys are a series of two brief studies done in connection to IT Professionals Day on September 15, which is designed to annually celebrate all IT professionals regardless of discipline. Whereas holidays such as System Administrator Appreciation Day do well at recognizing one category of the profession, IT Professionals Day honors not only system administrators, but network engineers, database administrators, information security professionals, developers, IT support technicians and all other professionals serving in IT-related roles.

Thompson added: “When you think about what a typical day would look like for many of today’s workers without IT pros and the technology they support, it’s safe to say work on the whole would slow to a crawl or worse. Considering all they do, IT pros truly are the unsung heroes of modern business."

Patrick Hubbard is a Head Geek and Technical Product Marketing Manager at SolarWinds.