9 Top IT Skills for 2009

5. Business intelligence
When it comes to BI, individuals who can understand the systems and collect the right data are obviously valuable. Though, IT pros who can think in terms of business strategy, driving creative ideas for what data to pull and how to use it, are of extreme value.

• Tomorrow's Microsoft BI Platform
• BI in a Tough Economy

6. Security
Security threats are abundant and always growing. Organizations not only need someone with a background in security, but also someone who can be proactive and forsee potential threats and eliminate them.

• Top 10 Security Stories of 2008
• Security Annoyances (you'll need subscriber access to view this article)

7. Web 2.0
Social networking becomes a bigger part of modern-day business every day, and it's not just limited to Millennials. If you feel like you came to the party too late and won't be able to keep up with the new tools, you're wrong. Most of them are surprisingly intuitive.

• Use Social Networking to Boost Your Career
• Do You Use Twitter in an IT Environment?

8. Data center
Understanding the data center and virtualization is critical, as organizations move to cut energy and storage costs. While many general IT pros are expected to learn these skills, becoming an expert in virtualization will be a smart move.

• Virtualization Shootout, Part 1 and Virtualization Shootout, Part 2
• Microsoft Views: Microsoft's David Greschler Talks About Microsoft's App-V and MED-V

9. Telecommunications
VoIP, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, Bluetooth--become familiar with these technologies, the devices that are using them, and what growing role they will have in the future.

• Smartphones Push Onward into the Enterprise
• In-Flight Wi-Fi to Become a Reality in 2009
• What is WiMAX?

What skills do you think will be in the highest demand for 2009? Post a comment and let me know.