Which Services Matter Most to IT Buyers?

Which Services Matter Most to IT Buyers?
Published: July 31, 2008

This report identifies the pre- and post-sales IT services that are most valued by small and mid-sized enterprises. Info-Tech measures the performance of five types of suppliers -- OEMs, VARs, Sis, ISVs and Retail Stores – in their service delivery. The research provides guidance on how each type of supplier can make adjustments in their service offerings to improve customer satisfaction. Info-Tech’s indepth channel research shows that six IT services dominate the decision-making process for SMEs: hardware implementation, equipment servicing, application configuration, technical training, pre-sale technical consultation and help desk services.

External IT Security Threats Continue to Grow

External security threats such as malware, exploitable vulnerabilities, spam and phishing attempts have always been a threat to enterprises. Often it is these issues that IT leaders claim as their number one concern. Fortunately, due to the prevalence of the problem, a significant amount of data that highlights its nuances is available for analysis.
This research note examines the external threat landscape, looking specifically at trends in the following three areas and projecting accordingly:
Malware trends.
Vulnerability trends.
Spam and phishing trends.
Common security wisdom says that the most significant threats an enterprise faces come from within. While valid, it is an equal truism that the greatest volume of threats comes from outside. Enterprise IT leaders must understand the magnitude of the situation in order to ensure that appropriate protection is always in place.