The new work culture (work from home) globally has put unimaginable pressure on the IT departments of every organization. From upping their digital infrastructure to providing safe and secure environment to their employees world across to connect with office network has become the top most priority of every technical department. However, a new research conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Citrix Systems (NASDAQ:CTXS) shows that the organizations are rising to the occasion, accelerating their digital transformation efforts to accommodate more flexible ways of working as employees will demand work from home even after the pandemic subsides.

The survey includes 3,700+ IT leaders from seven countries, out of which over three-quarters believe that a majority of workers will be reluctant to return to the office, and 62 percent say they are expecting their move to the cloud as a result. “COVID-19 has put already stressed IT teams to the test as mandates designed to slow the spread of the virus have forced them to deliver digital work environments with unprecedented speed. But as the results of our latest research reveal, they have responded and are stepping up their efforts to accommodate flexible models that will drive work for the foreseeable future,” explains Meerah Rajavel, CIO, Citrix.

69 percent of the IT decision makers asserts that it has been quite easy for the majority of their employees to work from home and 71 percent say that the technology they put in place has enabled them to collaborate just as effectively as they can face-to-face. As a result, they are revving up their digital engines and implementing solutions to support remote work for the long haul.

This crisis has thrust IT teams into the limelight like never before. They have worked to deliver secure reliable work environments that are keeping employees engaged and productive and business moving in extremely challenging times.

The interesting findings, in fact, are that 62 percent of IT leaders are considering downsizing physical IT infrastructure and transitioning to cloud model; 42 percent anticipate introducing digital workspace platforms; and 44 percent are looking to public cloud services to facilitate long-term remote working.

However, 48 percent of the IT leaders say their organizations did not have a business continuity plan based on the vast majority of employees working from home, and 61 percent found it challenging to make the switch. But then this new working style has indeed unboxed a plethora of concerns for IT leaders, looking at the increasing number of cyber-attacks. No wonder, 70 percent of IT leaders are worried about information security as a result of employees working from home; 54 percent asserts that there has been a spike in employees installing unsanctioned software; and 23 percent say that unscheduled VPN shutdowns have been a key problem for their department over the last few weeks.

Such distressed times and unwanted efforts have taken a toll on IT teams, which 77 percent of the respondents agree to. Rajavel says, “This crisis has thrust IT teams into the limelight like never before. They have worked to deliver secure, reliable work environments that are keeping employees engaged and productive and business moving in extremely challenging times. And in doing so, they will emerge from this crisis more strategic and valued by their organizations than they were going in”.