Changes in the technological landscape show little sign of slowing down. If anything, advances in cloud and AI, and the evolving, omni-present cybersecurity threat have exponentially driven innovation, resulting in the demand for new, specialised skill sets. This shift in workforce development requires talent that is adaptable, and equipped with the latest know-how to keep pace with this ever-changing environment.
These specialist technical capabilities are essential to helping businesses across the channel achieve their growth goals – but this skills gap is widening. The search to find qualified professionals who possess the necessary expertise to navigate these complex technologies is often a struggle – in high demand, but low in supply.
Leaning into support
With the need to understand the intricacies of different cloud providers, and ensure seamless interoperability between diverse environments, the adoption of hybrid and multi-cloud solutions is also adding significant pressure to the existing skills gap.
Demand is universal, no matter industry sector, size, or geography. It is increasingly difficult to fill critical roles, leading to bottlenecks in the ability to implement and truly get the most out of investments in the mission to remain competitive and drive growth. As a result, recruiters are crossing industry lines to search and secure this talent.
With competition fierce, businesses must be strategic in how they address their skills challenge, which is where the value of working with a technology partner such as Arrow delivers substantial benefits. We have the resources to address this through the large breadth of vendor solutions we offer, and the service capabilities and support available across our teams.
There are a number of ways channel partners can approach this, such as by taking advantage of training and certification programmes to upskill the workforce. As a Microsoft Authorised Training Partner, Arrow provides fully authorised Microsoft courses taught by certified trainers covering a wide range of topics, from Azure and Microsoft 365, to Power Platform and security.
Managed services bridging the gap
Managed services can also provide an important part of plugging chinks in the skills armoury. For example, as cyber threats continue to evolve and become more sophisticated it is one of the most critical areas to address. By implementing a managed service such as Arrow’s Micro-SOC, channel partners can help to strengthen their cybersecurity posture.
This managed service uses Microsoft's Azure Sentinel platform to provide continuous monitoring, threat detection, and security improvements. Designed to be low-touch, it uses a combination of Microsoft's cutting-edge technologies, and Arrow's security experts to identify and respond to potential threats in real-time.
Our approach is to empower our channel partners to develop their own expertise and overlay it with the skills our teams can supply. By delivering workforce development and providing access to cutting-edge knowledge, Arrow is helping businesses to take full advantage of today's dynamic technological landscape.
For more information, visit https://www.arrow.com/globalecs/uk/products/microsoft/.