More end users are connecting a wide range of electronic devices, including some that are personally-owned, to corporate networks, according to SolarWinds’ IT is Everywhere surveys.
Fielded last June, the first survey was conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of SolarWinds and yielded responses from 674 end users in Singapore who were employed, but not as IT professionals.
The second survey was fielded by SolarWinds in July and yielded responses from 276 IT professionals from across the globe.
Combined findings show that 60% of employed end users say they connect more devices to corporate networks than they did 10 years ago. Employees are connecting devices - whether company or personally owned - at an average of two more per user.
In addition, 77% of end users say they connect a laptop/desktop computer to corporate networks, 65% a smartphone and 22% a tablet computer.
“Our surveys reveal that more than ever, end users are connecting more devices, including those personally-owned, to corporate networks; relying on cloud-based applications; and working outside the four walls of traditional offices,” said Joseph Kim, SVP and CTO of SolarWinds.
The technology end users rely on is increasingly outside their employers’ on-premises infrastructure, including cloud-based applications and work-related resources leveraged beyond the office.
Among IT professionals, 60% globally say their organizations permit/facilitate the use of cloud-based applications; 71% also estimate that end users at least occasionally use non-IT-sanctioned cloud-based applications.
Despite the increase in end users’ reliance on technology often outside the control of their employers’ IT professionals, they still hold them accountable for its performance.
Close to two-thirds (62%) of IT professionals say the expectation to support end users’ personally-owned devices connected to corporate networks is significantly greater than it was 10 years ago, while 80% of end users say they expect their employers’ IT professionals to ensure the performance these devices.
Kim said the key findings show that end users are now more than ever pushing the boundaries of traditional IT beyond the four walls of their organizations.
“IT professionals are increasingly expected to ensure always-on availability and performance for any and all devices and applications, many of which they likely do not control,” he added.