--- title: 4 Data-Driven Skills for the Modern IT Pro description: Demand for data-driven insights is insatiable for most companies, and many of them are turning to their information technology departments for guidance. This year 32 percent of companies planned to increase the headcount in their IT departments, according Computerworld’s 2014 Forecast survey. canonical_url: https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/4-data-driven-skills-modern-it-pro/ locale: en last_updated: 2026-10-27 --- [Acronis Blog](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/) # 4 Data-Driven Skills for the Modern IT Pro Demand for data-driven insights is insatiable for most companies, and many of them are turning to their information technology departments for guidance. This year 32 percent of companies planned to increase the headcount in their IT departments, according Computerworld’s 2014 Forecast survey. [Learn More](https://www.acronis.com/en/products/cyber-protect/) [![Image 2: Acronis Editorial Team](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/d85707ae91461544212d39836dc32b42.png)](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/authors/acronis/ "Acronis Editorial Team") [Acronis Editorial Team](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/authors/acronis/) 2 min read Last updated 21 October 2022 Demand for data-driven insights is insatiable for most companies, and many of them are turning to their information technology departments for guidance. This year 32 percent of companies planned to increase the headcount in their IT departments, according Computerworld’s 2014 Forecast survey. At the same time, IDC’s Digital Universe study predicts that humans will have generated 40 zettabytes of data by 2020. That’s equal to 57 times the number of all the grains of sand on all the beaches on earth. With more data on more devices and in more locations than ever before, companies need IT pros who are proficient in Big Data and analytics. That means companies are looking for more than technical degrees and focusing on non-certified IT skills. Here are four of the hottest IT skills driven by the data boom. Data Architecture: Individuals with data architecture skills can visualize how information will be channeled through multiple databases to create an effective flow of business information. “People are looking for that person who can build a logical data map of their systems and aggregate relevant data so they can analyze and report on it,” Michael Kirven, founder and CEO of Mondo, a technology resource provider, tells Computerworld. Data Governance: With ever more data entering and leaving the organization, it’s important for companies to understand how that information is used, stored, secured and made accessible. IT professionals who understand this can implement policy and processes to ensure compliance regarding the many different sources of data. Data Security: [Major data hacks](http://subzeroblog.acronis.com/posts/data-breach-costs-rhode-island-hospital) have become part of the daily news, and they can have a major impact on businesses’ productivity, reputation and, ultimately, bottom line. Cybersecurity job postings have increased by 74 percent since 2007, according to Burning Glass Technologies, a labor-market analytics firm. Security jobs alone account for 10 percent of IT job postings, the firm says. Business Intelligence/Analytics: Not only do IT pros need the technical skill to mine data for valuable insights, but they need to be able to communicate their work. “These jobs sit between two worlds: business and IT,” Dan Everett, senior director of marketing enterprise information management at SAP, tells Information Management. "They must be able to talk to both: 60% business knowledge and 40% IT. The toolsets are getting there. It is now easier to do data profiling, data quality monitoring, and metadata management.” While demand for the latest and greatest software skills or programming knowledge will certainly drive many IT hires, an underlying need for data maintenance and security will define the work of IT pros day in and day out. [Image via Can Stock Photo] [Cybersecurity](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/tags/cybersecurity/) [Cyber protection](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/tags/cyber-protection/) ## Written by ![Image 3: Acronis Editorial Team](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/content/d85707ae91461544212d39836dc32b42.png) Acronis Editorial Team Acronis is a global cyber protection company that provides natively integrated cybersecurity, data protection, and endpoint management for managed service providers (MSPs), small and medium businesses (SMBs), and enterprise IT departments. [Previous post](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/exposing-specter-shadow-it/) [Exposing the Specter of ‘Shadow IT’](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/exposing-specter-shadow-it/) [Next post](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/what-it-leaders-can-learn-facebooks-extreme-data-center-test/) [What IT Leaders Can Learn from Facebook's Extreme Data Center Test](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/what-it-leaders-can-learn-facebooks-extreme-data-center-test/) About Acronis Acronis is a leader in AI-native cyber protection, unifying data protection, cybersecurity, IT operations and hybrid infrastructure to deliver business continuity, security and compliance with less cost and complexity. More than 21,000 service providers trust Acronis to protect over 750,000 businesses in 150 countries. Acronis is headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland. [Add as a preferred source on Google](https://google.com/preferences/source?q=acronis.com) ## Related stories Want to learn more? Read the latest stories featuring this solution on our blog. [Acronis Blog](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/) ![Image 4: stc Bahrain and Acronis partner to bring advanced endpoint security to businesses in Bahrain](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/blog-card/9600f3eea83b8f4e168ea6c1409c8c26.png) [stc Bahrain and Acronis partner to bring advanced endpoint security to businesses in Bahrain](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/stc-bahrain-and-acronis-partner-to-bring-endpoint-security-to-businesses/) We are proud to announce a strategic partnership with stc Bahrain, expanding access to advanced cybersecurity services for businesses across Bahrain. **October 26, 2026**3 min read ![Image 5: Introducing New Acronis CEO: Prakash Panjwani](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/blog-card/30cb571f6f1aaa131733e5727a4a250c.png) [Introducing New Acronis CEO: Prakash Panjwani](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/introducing-new-acronis-ceo-prakash-panjwani/) We are pleased to announce the appointment of our new Chief Executive Officer, Prakash Panjwani. A veteran cybersecurity CEO, Panjwani previously served as CEO of WatchGuard Technologies and SafeNet. **October 15, 2026**2 min read ![Image 6: Acronis expands MDR toward broader workspace protection](https://staticfiles.acronis.com/images/blog-card/18e90e89f5ec4ef0901f19008d4ccbf2.png) [Acronis expands MDR toward broader workspace protection](https://www.acronis.com/en/blog/posts/acronis-expands-mdr-toward-broader-workspace-protection/) Acronis is expanding the MDR service with capabilities that make this expertise easier to deliver and help partners address more risks. The developments build on a broader commitment to managed security: helping service providers protect the connected workspace while giving customers access to the expertise needed to investigate threats, respond effectively and maintain business continuity. **October 13, 2026**6 min read