Security Top Concern in Michigan Technology Leadership Index

Information technology leaders across Michigan view security issues as a top concern in 2007, with special concern for data integrity in the face of increased mobile computing.

That is one of the key findings in the second annual Michigan Technology Leadership Index (MTLI), the result of a comprehensive survey of tech leaders from across the state completed last month by technology consulting firm C/D/H.

For the second year, security topped their list of concerns. Most respondents once again focused their concern on hot-button issues such as virus and worm protection, firewalls and authentication systems. But this year the issue of data integrity, including disaster continuity, compliance and outside security attacks on data, emerged as a concern. Other key findings in the Index include:

• A majority of the IT leaders surveyed will spend more on technology in 2007 than in 2006. Michigan companies are continuing to upgrade and replace aging infrastructure and technologies -- upgrades essential to making Michigan competitive.
• Surprisingly, only 37 percent of respondents consider virtualization a top priority, despite the potential this technology holds for dramatic changes in computer and network infrastructure architecture and design. Virtualization essentially is software that allows under-utilized servers to perform more efficiently. It allows a single computer to "act" as if it is actually multiple computers working together, which results in better utilization and lower operating costs.
• Many more organizations are considering open-source solutions when seeking new technologies, with the momentum in favor of open-source growing significantly from 2006 levels.
• Windows XP remains the gold standard for desktop operating systems, and the survey results do not predict a rush to Vista in 2007. C/D/H estimatew that fewer than 10 percent of Michigan organizations will make the move to Vista this year, with most waiting until mid-2008 and beyond.
• Ninety-three percent of respondents plan to deploy SharePoint, Microsoft's integrated suite of server capabilities, within the next year and a half.

"The trends that have emerged from just two years of our findings have provided very useful information to IT decision makers across the state," said Paul Hillman, a partner at C/D/H. "Many organizations research technology trends on a national level, but we believe there is value in looking at the trends much closer to home."

A copy of the survey may be obtained via e-mail at http://www.cdh.com/ Registration is required.