Managing the technical infrastructure that runs a company’s operations has traditionally been the sole realm of IT. This was especially true when companies were using client-server technologies that required advanced technical skills to set up, maintain, and make updates. However, as cloud computing has taken over, the role of IT is changing drastically, especially in the area of business applications or software used by specific business units or departments.
Cloud applications, or software-as-a-service (SaaS), has made it much easier for departments or even individuals to purchase, setup, and use applications without IT being aware of the applications. The self-service nature of SaaS has removed the IT bottleneck. These trends may indicate that that role of IT has become significantly diminished in the organization. In reality, these trends are freeing up IT resources so they can be focused on strategic projects that add value for a company.