An IT Engineer installed the routers, laid the cables, configured the networks, set up the firewalls, and watched and guided the traffic for each hop of the network that runs over copper, fiber optic glass, and even the air itself to bring the Internet to your computer. All to make sure the webpage found its way from the server to your computer.
An IT Engineer makes sure your network connection is safe, secure, open, and working. A IT Engineer makes sure your computer is working in a healthy way on a healthy network. A IT Engineer takes backups to guard against disaster both human and otherwise, holds the gates against security threats and crackers, and keeps the printers going no matter how many copies of the tax code someone from Accounting prints out.
An IT Engineer worries about spam, viruses, spyware, but also power outages, fires and floods. When the email server goes down at 2 AM on a Sunday, your IT Engineer is called, wakes up, and goes to work.
An IT Engineer is a professional, who plans, worries, hacks, fixes, pushes, advocates, protects and creates good computer networks, to get you your data, to help you do work -- to bring the potential of computing ever closer to reality.
So if you can read this, thank your IT Engineer -- and know he or she is only one of dozens or possibly hundreds whose work brings you the email from your aunt on the West Coast, the instant message from your son at college, the free phone call from the friend in Australia, and this webpage.
Show your appreciation
Friday, July 31, 2009, is the 10th annual IT Engineer Appreciation Day. On this special international day, give your IT Engineer something that shows that you truly appreciate their hard work and dedication. (All day Friday, 24 hours, your local timezone).
Let's face it, IT Engineers get no respect 364 days a year. This is the day that all fellow IT Engineers across the globe, will be showered with expensive sports cars and large piles of cash in appreciation of their diligent work. But seriously, we are asking for a nice token gift and some public acknowledgement. It's the least you could do.
Consider all the daunting tasks and long hours (weekends too.) Let's be honest, sometimes you don't know your IT Engineers as well as they know you. Remember this is one day to recognize your IT Engineer for their workplace contributions and to promote professional excellence. Thank them for all the things they do for you and your business.
And Donot even dare to forget Me in this appreciation.
