What Is IT Management and How Does It Help Businesses?

What is IT management? 

IT (information technology) management is a broad term for how teams or individuals within an organization make information systems function effectively. Think of IT management as the way technology and business operations align to meet business objectives. 

IT management includes the following disciplines:  

• Business and IT alignment: Integrating business objectives with IT systems to improve an organization’s outcomes 

• Business intelligence: Technologies that turn raw data about an organization into meaningful information in the form of charts, dashboards, reports, and tables 

• Web and application development: Building web-based software to enhance customer experience

• Virtualization: Helping organizations achieve faster backup and recovery of data 

• Cloud computing: Helping organizations mobilize a remote workforce, store and sync data, automate processes, and manage customer relationships  

• IT finance management: Calculating the cost of delivering IT services and monitoring how an organization uses them 

• Project management: Planning, scheduling, and executing IT projects within an organization 

• Sourcing: The process of sourcing IT systems that an organization does not develop internally 

• IT systems management: The process of making sure IT systems consistently perform as expected

• IT infrastructure and technology management: All the tools used to operate IT within a company, including software and hardware  

"I’ve been applying the new skills and knowledge I’ve gained from all my courses to my work and it’s helped me be a better IT professional."

— Munifa M., on completing the Google IT Support Professional Certificate

professional certificate

Google IT Support

Get on the fast track to a career in IT. In this certificate program, you’ll learn in-demand skills, and get AI training from Google experts. Learn at your own pace, no degree or experience required.

4.8

(184,122 ratings)

1,771,005 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 6 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Cybersecurity, Wireless Security, Cryptography, Network Security, Directory Service, Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), Backup, Domain Name System (DNS), Ipv4, Network Model, Troubleshooting, Binary Code, Customer Support, Linux, Powershell, Linux File Systems, Command-Line Interface

Why is information technology management important? 

With businesses’ increasing reliance on technology, IT management is vitally important to the health of an organization and the ability to execute business strategies.

According to Statista, spending on data migration, enterprise software, and other IT systems topped $5.1 billion in 2024 and is projected to keep growing [1]. In terms of priorities, investing in AI, clouds, security, and data continues to be among the top tech trends that Pluralsight outlined for 2025 [2].

With a solid IT management team or process, businesses can reduce costs, improve data management, and make it easier for employees to collaborate, transfer data, and store and protect information. 

Did you know? IBM studied 500 data breaches and found that the average cost of a data breach reached a record high in 2024, $4.88 million. According to the 2024 Report, the average cost savings for companies that used AI and automation for IT security was $2.22 million [3].  

What can you count on from an IT management team?

Given the range of services IT management covers, an IT management team can include technologists in various roles with various skills. While organizations’ IT needs may differ from one to the next, here are some IT management roles and skills you may see across industries:  

Get started in IT management with Coursera

Taking online courses can be a great way to learn more about IT management and discover career opportunities. To learn general IT skills, explore the Google IT Support Professional Certificate or IBM Technical Support Professional Certificate. To learn industry-specific skills, explore Johns Hopkins University’s Healthcare IT Support Specialization or IBM’s IT Fundamentals for Cybersecurity Specialization.

professional certificate

Google IT Support

Get on the fast track to a career in IT. In this certificate program, you’ll learn in-demand skills, and get AI training from Google experts. Learn at your own pace, no degree or experience required.

4.8

(184,122 ratings)

1,771,005 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 6 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Cybersecurity, Wireless Security, Cryptography, Network Security, Directory Service, Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), Backup, Domain Name System (DNS), Ipv4, Network Model, Troubleshooting, Binary Code, Customer Support, Linux, Powershell, Linux File Systems, Command-Line Interface

professional certificate

IBM IT Support

Prepare for a career as an IT support specialist. Gain the in-demand skills and hands-on experience to get job-ready in as little as 3 months. No prior experience required.

4.8

(2,046 ratings)

47,183 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 3 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

Technical Support, Customer Service, Cloud, Troubleshooting, IT Fundamentals, Software Application Development, Computer Programming, Software Development Process, Database basics, Wireless Networks, Network Troubleshooting, Network Architecture, Cloud Storage, Networking Hardware, Cybersecurity, Cryptography, Cyberattacks, Information Security (INFOSEC), Application Security, Cloud Computing, Hybrid Multicloud, Devops, Iaas PaaS Saas, Cloud Native, Operating Systems, hardware, Information Technology (IT) Support, Ticketing Systems, Service Level Agreements (SLA), Certification Test, CompTIA ITF+, Exam Practice

specialization

IT Fundamentals for Cybersecurity

Launch your career in Cybersecurity. Acquire the knowledge you need to work in Cybersecurity

4.6

(5,438 ratings)

61,401 already enrolled

Beginner level

Learn More

Average time: 1 month(s)

Learn at your own pace

Skills you'll build:

networking basics, Cybersecurity, database vulnerabilities, Operating System Security, Cyber Attacks, Cybersecurity Threats, Cybersecurity Controls, Physical Threats and Controls, Risk Management, Laws and Regulations, Cybersecurity Compliance, Cybersecurity Framework, Cybersecurity Standards, Operating Systems, Directory and File Management, User (Computing), Virtualization, Linux, Windows, MacOS, User Accounts, Network Security, Network Configuration, Endpoint Security, Intrusion Detection Systems, Firewall Configuration