SolarWinds, a company that provides software for managing hybrid IT infrastructures, has declared the third Tuesday of September (starting on September 15, 2015) as IT Professionals Day. This day is meant to show appreciation for IT professionals, recognizing their often-unsung contributions to modern businesses.

To mark IT Professionals Day, SolarWinds published the findings of their IT Pro Value Survey. This research highlights the significant contributions of Singaporean IT professionals. It examines how much end-users value IT departments and explores how valued IT professionals feel within their organizations.

The survey revealed that most end-users in Singapore believe the IT department has a bigger impact on their daily work than the company’s senior executives (the C-suite). Almost two-thirds (60%) stated that the IT department going on vacation for a month would disrupt their work more than if the C-suite took a month off.

The study also found that Singaporean end-users value workplace technology more than personnel. Over four-fifths (81%) placed higher importance on technology supported by IT (like phones, computers, and software) compared to their colleagues (35%).

Nearly three-quarters of Singaporean end-users (72%) reported lost productivity without the technology supported by IT professionals. A third (36%) said that a day’s work would take an extra business day or more to complete without IT support, and 16% felt it would be impossible to do their jobs at all.

The survey also gathered insights from IT professionals:

• Three out of five IT professionals (62%) reported feeling, at best, moderately valued by their employers for their contributions to the business, with over a quarter (27%) feeling only slightly valued or not valued at all.
• Four out of five IT professionals (83%) believed they were worth more than their current salary, with one-third (35%) feeling they deserved at least 21% more.
• A majority of IT professionals (61%) expressed concerns about job security, with four in ten (42%) attributing this to company leadership not understanding how important the IT role is.

“The survey results show that there’s a lot more that business leaders and end-users could be doing to show their appreciation for the value that IT professionals bring to the table,” said Kevin Thompson, President and Chief Executive Officer of SolarWinds. “The technology we depend on to keep businesses running smoothly is essential for success, but the recognition and rewards that IT professionals receive for their role in enabling and supporting that technology might not reflect that importance. IT Professionals Day is a good step towards fixing that.”

The purpose of IT Professionals Day is to have an annual celebration honoring all types of IT professionals. While holidays like System Administrator Appreciation Day acknowledge one specific area of the field, IT Professionals Day celebrates everyone, from system administrators to network engineers, database administrators, information security professionals, developers, IT support technicians, and everyone else working in IT-related roles.

“We’re thrilled to be a part of establishing IT Professionals Day to recognize all IT professionals for the exceptional work they do in keeping businesses operating at the rapid pace required in today’s world,” Thompson added. “If you imagine what a normal workday would be like for most of today’s workers without IT professionals and the technology they maintain, it’s safe to say that work would grind to a halt, if not worse. When you consider everything they do, IT pros are the unsung heroes of modern business. So, on behalf of SolarWinds, a big thank you to all the IT professionals out there. Happy IT Professionals Day 2015 and for many years to come.”

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*SolarWinds’ IT Pro Value Surveys are two related studies conducted in connection with IT Professionals Day. One survey looks at the opinions and attitudes of end-users regarding IT professionals and the technology they support, emphasizing the significant value of the profession. The other survey highlights how IT professionals often feel undervalued, suggesting a need for business leaders and end-users to express more appreciation.