IT Spending 101: 4 Rules All Midmarket CIOs Should Follow

One of the biggest mysteries of the midmarket is the total IT spend that takes place on services, software, hardware and networking equipment. Actual dollars spent and allocation of IT as a percentage of revenue varies by company and industry in the midmarket. While industry pundits have long debated this issue, a Gartner initiative led by Research Vice President Jim Browning sheds light on the IT spending and behavior of companies considered midsize enterprises, typically employing between 100 and 1,000 workers.

At UBM Tech Channel's recent Midsize Enterprise Summit, Browning disclosed his latest research to midmarket CIOs. Gartner predicts SMB IT spending this year will reach $901 billion, up from $868 billion last year, with estimates that spending will cross the $1 trillion mark by 2015. Here are Browning's four rules for midmarket CIOs to follow in managing IT spend.