Value the efforts of IT staff

It has long been the subject of ridicule in and out of the workplace - but one Midlands company believes that IT departments should stand up for themselves and highlight the good work they do before users start taking them for granted.

The team from Netshield, which has just celebrated its 10th anniversary, works alongside more than 200 IT departments around the Midlands and understands the difference a dedicated team can have on a business.

Director Tony Sterling said: "When your internet connection or network fails, it is not only one of the most frustrating things in the world but a costly one.

"However, with a dedicated IT team the chances are that once you have logged a call, an army of specialists will work their magic on the problem, resolving it as soon as possible.

"Without this support, solving a computer glitch could prove to be a significantly more difficult and time consuming task."

However, the company does lay some blame for this attitude on the IT departments themselves for shying away from attention.

Mr Sterling added: "By nature, the IT professional's primary concern is to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.

"But in order to change perceptions, IT teams need to be more proactive and vocal about the good work they do - which is why we are encouraging our customers and IT partners to introduce themselves to users.

"After all, it's about time people appreciated how much IT departments do, and how lucky they are."

on the problem, resolving it as soon as possible.

"Without this support, solving a computer glitch could prove to be a significantly more difficult and time consuming task."

However, the company does lay some blame for this attitude on the IT departments themselves for shying away from attention.

Mr Sterling added: "By nature, the IT professional's primary concern is to resolve the problem as quickly as possible.

"But in order to change perceptions, IT teams need to be more proactive and vocal about the good work they do - which is why we are encouraging our customers and IT partners to introduce themselves to users.

"After all, it's about time people appreciated how much IT departments do, and how lucky they are."