What does 2016 have in store for chief information officers (CIOs)?

Research from recruitment firm Robert Half indicates that the new year will see a renewed focus on cybersecurity. This will require more IT security staff while CIOs are also navigating their companies through digitalisation with minimal disruption.

As such, an organised approach to HR management can help enhance business operations.

IT recruitment likely to increase

Robert Half found that 38 per cent of CIOs and chief technology officers pointed to IT security as having the largest influence on their business through to 2020. In light of this, more companies will be looking to hire the right candidates for highly specialised IT roles.

“Clearly IT security is critical to the success of every business around the world,” Robert Half Asia Pacific Asia Pacific David Jones said.

“The rising fear of data theft, hacking and fraud compounded by the fact that many staff are now working remotely and on multiple devices means there’s an increasing demand for IT security specialists.”

As Australian companies seek to fill these roles, there will be an increased demand on the HR team. To simplify this process, HR consulting can ease the pressure on busy C-suite executives without compromising on hiring the right talent.

What will be the main focus for CIOs in 2016?

While CIOs want to be involved in the hiring process for IT security as much as possible, there are still other areas of the business requiring their attention. According to research from IDC, CIOs will be increasingly required to lead their companies through potential digital disruption.

The report, IDC FutureScape: Worldwide CIO Agenda 2016 Predictions, indicates that digitalisation will require the full attention of CIOs.

“As the digital transformation scales up, CIOs have the opportunity of a lifetime to lead innovation, integration, and incorporation, thus making a major difference in their company’s future,” explained IDC’s IT Executive Programs Research Vice President Serge Findling.

As CIOs try to balance increased hiring with navigating their companies through digital disruption, the right HR Management System (HRMS) can go a long way. Not only can it help organise tasks, but also streamlines the entire IT candidate recruitment process.