Question:

How common is it to work on site or remotely for a single company as an IT professional? What is the typical size and scope of the user base that you support? Do you think that the demand for this role is declining due to the emergence of MSPs and other service providers? >
> For example, I work for a company and support about 300 users, including 200+ semi truck drivers with tablets.

Answer:

The State of IT Professionals in the Age of Outsourcing

The role of an IT professional is often challenging, rewarding, and dynamic. IT professionals are responsible for managing, maintaining, and troubleshooting the technology infrastructure of an organization, as well as providing support and training to the end users. However, the IT landscape is constantly evolving, and so are the expectations and demands of the employers and clients.

One of the major trends that has impacted the IT industry in recent years is the rise of outsourcing. Outsourcing refers to the practice of contracting out certain tasks or functions to external service providers, such as managed service providers (MSPs), cloud computing providers, or software as a service (SaaS) vendors. Outsourcing can offer many benefits to an organization, such as reducing costs, increasing efficiency, enhancing scalability, and accessing specialized expertise.

However, outsourcing also poses some challenges and risks, such as loss of control, security breaches, vendor lock-in, and quality issues. Moreover, outsourcing can have a significant impact on the employment and career prospects of IT professionals, as some of their tasks or roles may be replaced or reduced by external service providers.

So, how common is it to work on site or remotely for a single company as an IT professional? What is the typical size and scope of the user base that you support? Do you think that the demand for this role is declining due to the emergence of MSPs and other service providers?

According to a survey conducted by Spiceworks, a community of IT professionals, in 2020, about 61% of IT professionals worked on site for a single company, while 39% worked remotely or as contractors for multiple companies. The survey also found that the average number of users supported by an IT professional was 159, and the average number of devices managed was 242.

However, the survey also revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the IT industry, as many organizations had to shift to remote work, adopt cloud-based solutions, and increase their IT spending and security measures. The survey predicted that these changes would continue to affect the IT industry in the future, as more organizations would embrace digital transformation, automation, and outsourcing.

Therefore, the demand for IT professionals may not necessarily decline, but rather change and evolve. IT professionals may need to adapt to new technologies, skills, and roles, as well as to new ways of working and collaborating. IT professionals may also need to demonstrate their value and relevance to their employers or clients, by providing strategic guidance, innovation, and problem-solving.

For example, I work for a company and support about 300 users, including 200+ semi truck drivers with tablets. My role involves not only managing the network, servers, and devices, but also developing and maintaining custom applications, integrating various systems and platforms, and ensuring compliance and security. I also provide training and support to the users, and liaise with external service providers when needed. I work mostly remotely, but I also visit the site occasionally to perform maintenance or troubleshooting. I enjoy my job, as it is challenging, diverse, and rewarding.

In conclusion, the role of an IT professional is not fading away, but rather transforming and diversifying. IT professionals need to keep up with the changing IT landscape, and leverage the opportunities and benefits that outsourcing can offer, while also mitigating the challenges and risks. IT professionals need to be flexible, adaptable, and resilient, as well as creative, innovative, and strategic.

: [The 2020 State of IT: The Annual Report on IT Budgets and Tech Trends](https://www.spiceworks.com/marketing/state-of-it/report/)