As if managing complex environments wasn't difficult enough, IT executives today must do so with less staff and cash. With this in mind, Symantec polled 300 network administrators to get a better gauge on what worries them in regards to managing IT, specifically distributed endpoints, in a down economy.

The results showed that a majority are faced with providing more services with the same or less cash than they did in previous years. For instance, 62% of those responding to Symantec's poll reported that their IT budgets will either remain stagnant or reduce in 2009. For about two-thirds of those surveyed IT staff is either stuck at the status quo or it will be reduced in the coming months. More than 40% admitted to being concerned about job security, and others fear fewer staff (39%) due to reduced headcount and lack of up-to-date equipment (38%) will make their jobs more challenging in 2009.

Specifically, IT managers are facing less investment in new technology, according to 44% of respondents. More than 40% have to face critical IT issues with less staff, and 38% reported their efforts to upgrade IT management software will be delayed in 2009. Close to 40% also expect to experience a day in the migration of new hardware.

When asked what might help them better weather the economic storm, a majority mentioned automation and management technologies. For instance, 47% said the ability to automate common tasks and 43% indicated that tools to maximize uptime might help in the face of fewer staff resources. And more than 70% said the ability to automate tasks would help their schedules. Others (42%) mentioned implementing remote diagnostic tools to fill the void and some (40%) said they could imagine improving user productivity via virtualization technology.

As for plans when the economy picks up, several network administrators (39%) surveyed indicated that endpoint virtualization could increase productivity. Another 27% said they believed that endpoint virtualization could decrease complexity, while nearly 40% thought the technology might decrease costs. According to the Symantec survey, nearly three-quarters of the network administrators polled are "at least considering plans to implement endpoint virtualization."

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Denise Dubie is senior editor with Network World.