Times are tough: Get used to it

By now you know we're in a recession, and we've been in one for a year. That's probably not really news to most people in business who have been seeing customers drop out, receipts drop down, budgets shrink, hiring put on hold and some employees get laid off.

But while times are tough, information technology is here to stay, and it is a necessity. The trains don't run without IT. Businesses cannot exist without software and tech support, and while the economic climate is making life harder, IT is not drying up.

The latest NetworkWorld.com article talks about ways CIOs can and must cut costs while keeping their IT departments afloat and contributing to the bottom line. IT solutions must be integral to business strategy, rather than stand alone ideas. Smart CIOs will make sure their teams remain the bloodline to good services and innovations that save money.

When the next problem comes up, IT must be ready to handle it swiftly. It also may be wise for CIOs to skip incremental improvements that don't have huge value, stick close to their budget and make sure any upgrades are not just tied to IT savings, but to savings across the entire company. - Judi