buzzword bingo, user errors top irritating problems IT pros face list, according to SolarWinds study
IT professionals aren’t often asked their take on tech frustrations, end users, and dream gifts, but this year SolarWinds polled some 437 IT pros to learn what they think about the fun and not-so-fun parts of their jobs in honor of IT Pro Day.
Marketing executives at SolarWinds had many discussions with end users over the past 12 months to learn more about the tools they use, the processes that help them most, and the “principles that shape their experience as tech professionals,” according to a SolarWinds blog. “Their stories remind us that IT isn’t just about tools—it’s about people finding smarter ways to work, solving problems under pressure, and guiding organizations toward resilience.”
According to the survey results, IT pros must struggle through buzzword bingo, with some terms getting more under their skin than others. For instance, when asked “which buzzword makes you want to chuck your monitor out the window?” nearly one-third (30.7%) of respondents said artificial intelligence, or AI, would cause them some frustration. Following AI, digital transformation (15.3%), seamless integration (13.0%), and synergy (10.5%) topped the list. Other buzzwords that might cause some IT pros to roll their eyes include zero trust (8.5%), blockchain for things that definitely don’t need blockchain (8.5%), and paradigm shift (6.9%).
IT pros also reported on the biggest IT problems they encounter in their daily work—and end users topped the list. For instance, about one-third (32.5%) of those surveyed pointed to user error as their most common issue, followed by end users not logging help desk tickets (19.9%), then ignored updates (12.1%), and weak or forgotten passwords (10.5%). Clicking suspicious links (13.7%) and bringing in rogue devices (6.9%) also made the list.
When responding to end-user incidents, IT pros also shared the statements that worry them most. SolarWinds asked, “Which phrase makes your soul leave your body?” and IT pros responded:
- “I didn’t touch anything”: 19.0%
- “You’re good with computers, right?”: 18.5%
- “The Wi-Fi’s broken”: 18.3%
- “Can’t you just …”: 16.7%
- “Was I not supposed to click that link?”: 14.4%
- “I’ve never turned my computer off”: 8.2%
- “I typed in my password when it asked me to”: 4.8%
IT pros also weighed in on what they wished coworkers would understand about IT. To start, nearly one-third (30.7%) of respondents to this survey said, “People only notice us when something explodes.” Following that 28.4% of IT pros said they want others to realize that “We juggle requests from every department—you’re not the only one,” followed by “turning it off and on again isn’t magic—it’s science” for 22.9% of respondents. Nearly one-tenth (9.4%) also clarified how their job duties break down daily, “40% maintenance, 40% firefighting, 20% therapist.” And lastly, 8.7% want everyone to know that “No, I can’t fix your home printer ‘real quick’.”
When asked about their dream gift on IT Pro Day, survey respondents listed from top to bottom: an unlimited IT budget, an actual heartfelt thank you, waking up to zero urgent alerts, an ergonomic chair that doesn’t sound like a haunted house, 24 glorious hours without meetings, and a public apology from the non-IT folks. Based on these survey results, it seems IT pros don’t just want better tools or fewer headaches—they want recognition and appreciation from their peers across the organization.
