IT Departments Old Way of Thinking Hurting the Industry

I have to admit, after working in IT for over a decade, I am still completely taken aback on some of the thinking that goes on when talking with other IT professionals. There is a sort of 'old school' thinking that so many of them have that is not only outdated but has put the entire industry in a funk.

Internet Explorer 6
Let's start simple, Internet Explorer 6. I keep taking calls about Web projects that aren't performing properly because the user is still running IE6. IE6 was and is buggy, and it always will be. It is an old program that has been outdated. When I ask, "why don't you upgrade," the answer I always get, "our IT department won't let us." I am beyond confused on why an IT department would restrict upgrading an old, security laden program with a newer and more secure version.

I talked in my blog 'The Internet Explorer 6 Conundrum: Part 1' here that one of the reasons is that there are third-party proprietary software packages that is built into IE6 that won't run on IE7 or IE8. These companies feel they invested the money in this software and it needs to be used. When is it time to bite the bullet and upgrade that software as well? What kind of thinking is based on hopes that an outdated and buggy program is a better solution than reconstructing third-party software to work with newer browsers. How many security breaches do you need to have before it is time to upgrade?

The Internet
I am always interested at the level of thinking that goes behind restricting all Internet access. This was more prevalent in the early 2000's where IT departments do not allow its users to surf the Internet to any other sites besides those that are allowed. In most cases, this starts with a power hungry VP somewhere who trickles down these rules through HR and eventually to IT.

But, there are other cases where I have seen IT departments shut off a good portion of the Internet as a security concern. To start with, if you don't have IE6, you may not have as strong a concern. That being said, there is a precedent that gets set when you restrict users. It is as if the IT department is saying, "you have been hired to do a job, yet we don't trust you do that job and think that you will be spending your day on the Internet." It tells coworkers we are in charge and don't mess with the bull. This is just one of many reasons that IT departments are given a bad rep.

That being said, some studies have hinted that allowing employees some freedom to surf during breaks and lunch actually increases productivity. Now, don't get me wrong, I understand shutting down streaming media sites for bandwidth concerns and do understand that some users have a tendency to get viruses, etc. more than others. However, I don't think that shutting down the Internet is the answer. Perhaps training would be a better solution. It may also create a better employee.

Staying on top of IT
I was talking with a gentleman at a bar a few months ago who also worked in IT. I brought up a couple of ideas and current topics and it was obvious he had no idea what I was talking about. The concept of Moore's Law doesn't just apply to computer memory and speed but in the technology itself. Getting a CS degree in 1978 doesn't mean you will understand growing trends and new technology of 2010. It is the responsibility of the IT professional to stay on top of this current technology. Lawyers, doctors, teachers, social workers, and dozens of other professions require continuing education courses to stay on top of their fields. Generally, IT departments don't require this so it is up to the individual. And, if you aren't interested in educating yourself, then don't be surprised when it is your infrastructure that has a security breach because you are using outdated software or haven't properly plugged some security holes.