We’ve spoken to the IT Managers of some of the UK’s leading managed service providers and businesses, to take a look at the most in-demand IT skills in 2024, across Networks and Infrastructure, Cloud, Cyber Security, DevOps, Automation, AI, IT Sales and Account Management.
Skillsoft’s IT Skills and Salary Report shows that 61% of IT Managers and decision makers report a skills gap within their business, and 56% anticipate a skills gap within the next 1-2 years.
Additionally, 43% of businesses report struggling to hire IT professionals with the skills that they need. Which shows a serious lack of IT professionals with the necessary skills to meet the demand in the market.
Knowing this, we’re looking at the most in-demand of these in-demand IT skills, so you can make yourself the most in-demand IT professional in the market.
The Most In-Demand Network Skills
Networking and infrastructure environments are the backbone of the IT industry, and ensuring their continuing development and smooth operation is essential: Which is why it’s essential for any network or infrastructure professionals to stay up-to-date with the latest IT skills and tech.
On a basic level, these in-demand skills include the likes of:
Installing and Configuring Hardware
Network professionals who are still happy to remind hands-on with hardware, servers, or networks are still in high-demand.
And many new network professionals aren’t being taught the hands-on basics, which may create a skills gap in the future.
Networks
The most in-demand professionals within networks are those who have skilled and experience working with a variety of different networks, such as LAN, WAN, SD-WAN: Instead of just one.
This can be from simply maintaining networks for junior professionals, to designing and implementing network solutions.
Troubleshooting
Network downtime can be extremely costly for businesses. Which makes it imperative that a business has network professionals who have strong experience and skills in troubleshooting.
One of the core networking principles, troubleshooting skills are in high demand, and that’s unlikely to change any time soon: Meaning upskilling in troubleshooting is never a bad idea.
Network Security Operations
And again, for the same reason as troubleshooting we have network security operations. Another core component to preventing/ reducing network downtime, strong experience in network security is a massively in-demand skill.
It’s common for businesses to hire a specialised NOC (Network Operations Center) or Network Security Engineer, to specifically work on network security.
The Most In-Demand Network Technologies
But when it comes to specific technologies in the networks space that are in-high-demand, there are two vendors that stand out above the rest: Cisco and Juniper.
And experience working with both of them is in massive demand, practically essential for anyone from Infrastructure Engineer to Network Architect.
Cisco
Cisco is currently leading the way in the network and infrastructure market, with experience with any of these Cisco techs being highly sought after by employers:
- Cisco SDA.
- Cisco SD-WAN.
- Cisco VIPTELA.
- And Cisco ACI.
If you’re looking to progress in your career or considering applying for new jobs where you’ll be working with Cisco tech in the networks and infrastructure space: We highly advise upskilling with any of these Cisco technologies/ softwares, or looking for a new job and company that will support you to learn.
Juniper
However, Juniper is tech that is very similar to Cisco, but costs a lot less. Which means we’re seeing lots of demand for network professionals who have experience working with Juniper tech, because it’s cheaper for businesses.
Equivalent Juniper tech that we’ve seen in-demand would be the likes of:
- Juniper Mist.
- Juniper Contrail.
- SRX Firewalls.
- And ACX Routers.
We’re still seeing a lot of demand for Cisco, but some areas of the market are being overtaken about Juniper. So either technology is still great to get experience with.
Although obviously the best thing you can do for your career, is gain experience in both.
The Most In-Demand Cloud Computing Skills
The Cloud computing space is dominated by 3 big players: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Within these 3, it’s AWS and Azure who own the majority of the market share, (31% and 25% respectively), although Google is starting to make headway and gains in the market share (11%).
Meaning that the most in-demand skills in IT around Cloud computing, are experience within these tech stacks. Earning additional certifications within these groups, such as the Microsoft Certified Azure series of certifications, the AWS Cloud certifications, or Google Cloud series, will be a massive boost to your skills, make you more employable, and more in-demand.
But the top 5 in-demand Cloud computing skills that will be a big benefit to your career include:
Network Management
Cloud resources are connected to the on-site premises, which allows the organisation to establish secure connectivity and private virtual cloud networks across multiple sites. Which often necessitates some network management, to ensure the cloud is operating optimally.
Database Management
A database is one of the most commonly used services in the cloud: Meaning understanding how to effectively manage cloud databases is an in-demand, practically essential skill for any IT professional working with the cloud.
Cloud Security
Security if essential for every IT environment: And the cloud is no exception.
Cloud security is complex, working across multiple sites and domains, and safeguards often sensitive information such as personal information, company intellectual property, and customer data. IT Professionals with experience in cloud security are in high-demand, as the cloud continues to grow and develop, often outstripping the available talent within cyber security.
Storage
An in-depth understanding of cloud computing and storage is essential for any professional working with the cloud. As well as the different types of cloud storage available: Personal cloud storage, Private cloud storage, Hybrid cloud storage, and Multi Cloud storage.
Which cloud storage solution is right for an individual organisation, depends on a variety of factors: And being able to demonstrate your understanding of which is best for a specific organisation, and how to work within cloud storage, is an extremely desirable skill.
Migrations
Migrations from on-premises to cloud aren’t always simple, with applications that operate on-premises often relying on specific software or hardware to operate.
Experience and skills in on premises migrations to cloud environments is an extremely desirable skill, and will only become increasingly so as the cloud continues to grow and develop.
The Most in-demand Cyber Security Skills
Cyber security is one of the fastest growing areas of IT. As more and more businesses shift to cloud storage, there has been an increase in the amount of cyberattacks. Meaning cyber security professionals are in more demand than ever before.
Within Cyber Security, there are 5 big players: Palo Alto, Fortinet, CheckPoint, Cisco, and Juniper: And all of them offer viable career paths and, experience in any and all of these technology stacks are in-demand skills right now.
Network Environments and Security
Having an understanding of network environments is the basis for any cybersecurity career, as cyber security will often involve network security. And ensuring networks are secure, is instrumental for cyber security.
Cloud Security Skills
As we discussed earlier, the cloud is only growing as more and more organisations move to cloud environments. Meaning Cyber Security professionals with cloud security skills are more in-demand than ever: With no expectations of slowing down anytime soon.
Intrusion Detection – SIEM
If you’re hands-on with cyber security, intrusion detection is an important part of your role, monitoring the network for intrusions. Experience with security information and event management (SIEM) products is essential for this, and for many other responsibilities for a cyber security professional.
Incident Response
The primary goal of cyber security is prevention, to stop any incoming cyber threats. However, this isnt always possible. Making the ability to effectively and quickly respond to security incidents a desirable and in-demand skill for organisations, and an essential part of a well-rounded cyber security specialist.
Coding
Coding is a hugely beneficial skill for a cyber security professional to learn: And you may find yourself hitting a ceiling in your career without knowledge of one, or more, of these common coding languages within cybersecurity: Python, C and C++, JavaScript, SQL, HTML etc.
Most in-demand Skills in IT Sales and Account Management
Managed Services
One of the most in-demand skills within IT sales and account management, is experience in selling managed services to customers.
Which is so important to a business because it allows for a continuous stream of revenue for the duration of the managed service contract. Recurring revenue then allows for a stable business that doesn’t rely solely on winning new business to expand its team, and satisfy stakeholders..
New Business Development
IT account management professionals who have experience and are skilled in new business development are also in high-demand. While account management is essential, businesses are more concerned with hiring Account Managers who are happy to go out and win new business, rather than simply maintain current client accounts.
Knowledge Selling in Specific Industries:
Within IT sales and account management, knowledge of how to effectively sell different technical IT technologies and specialties is absolutely essential.
While experience of being hands-on working within IT is perhaps the most common way to move into IT sales and account management, it’s not an absolute necessity. However, being able to demonstrate a strong understanding of the different areas of IT, how they work together, and would integrate with a customer’s existing network, is.
Networks and network security
As one of the biggest areas of IT, it’s no surprise that knowledge of selling networks and network security is also one of the most in-demand skills within IT sales.
Understanding an organisation’s existing IT network infrastructure, and being able to sell to a potential customer how your managed services can be integrated with and improve upon their infrastructure is no small task.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is one of the fastest-growing areas of IT: Which makes it essential that a managed service business can effectively sell its managed cloud services, and stand out from the rest of the competition.
Which is easier said than done, given the complex nature of cloud network solutions and integrating them with a businesses existing IT infrastructure.
Cyber security
Hand-in-hand with cloud computing, cyber security is one of the fastest-growing areas of IT. As more organisations move into the cloud, cyber security services also become more in-demand.
Given that however, makes it a competitive market to try and sell managed services in.
The Future of Networks: Automation, DevOps, and AI
However, what’s hottest on the market right now is Automation, DevOps, and AI. Organisations are using these to build their own private cloud, rather than being involved in a public cloud.
Privatising and bringing everything back in house, makes for a much more secure environment for businesses
And automating and getting AI to take care of tasks for you means less manpower, quicker response, and speeds up processes.
Within Automation, DevOps, and AI, there are 3 standout pieces of tech that are in-high-demand, that our clients continuously ask for IT professionals with experience in:
Terraform
Terraform allows users to define and provision data centre infrastructures both on-premises and in the cloud, supporting across multiple cloud providers.and automation of setting up, managing, and versioning infrastructure.
Python
Python can be used to develop customer automation solutions, to implement AI driven analytics, and for writing scripts that automate repetitive tasks such as configuration, management, and deployment.
Ansible
Experience and expertise working with Ansible is in high-demand, due to Ansible’s simplicity of use, powerful network automation capabilities, and integration with DevOps.
Given the skills gap in the IT industry, it’s no surprise that skilled IT professionals are in massive demand across the spectrum of IT. Which means there are huge opportunities for those IT professionals who have, or have the ability to upskill in these in-demand areas.
If you have these in-demand IT skills then you are in a great place to look for new roles, and bargain a great salary. Check out the latest IT jobs on the market and our open vacancies here.