How to Build Enterprise IT Training Programs

Nothing about technology remains the same. In just a few years, AI and machine learning have gone from sci-fi ideas to everyday tools. Cybersecurity breaches are more common, more advanced, and much more expensive. Work-from-home was a stop-gap measure, but now it’s a basic necessity. 

Companies need to be stable, profitable, and productive, but rapid change is the norm in technology.  Enterprise IT training helps keep IT teams up-to-date with quickly evolving tech so companies can remain productive and profitable.

Building an enterprise IT training program that keeps your IT teams trained and certified means you can keep reaping the rewards of their skills and knowledge. Here's how to get it right. 

Why Is an Enterprise IT Training Program Necessary?

Since the shape of technology changes by the day, an enterprise IT training program ensures your IT teams know how to optimize system performance, reduce operational costs, and implement bleeding-edge best practices.

The benefits of an enterprise IT training program also include: 

• Improved employee productivity

• Reduced cost in the form of errors and redundant labor

• Better cybersecurity and lower chance of breaches

• Higher levels of creativity and innovation from employees

• Increased job satisfaction

• Improved job retention

• Enhanced organizational competitiveness

When your IT teams are trained and thoroughly familiar with their tools, they can be creative and proactive in the solutions they bring to network operations and company profitability.

How to Start Building an Enterprise IT Training Program

You don’t want to just throw money at IT training and hope it works out for the best. A successful enterprise IT training program requires: 

1. Get a Clear Understanding of the Organization’s Goals

The first step in building an enterprise IT training program is to identify organizational goals. There’s no reason to have IT corporate training in the first place if it does not support organizational goals by ensuring employees develop skills that actually improve business initiatives, operational efficiency, and maintaining a competitive edge. 

By focusing on organizational goals, enterprise IT training becomes an investment that delivers measurable value and supports long-term business growth.

2. Identify the Specific Technologies Required to Achieve Them

To effectively support your organizational goals, you'll need to outline the specific technologies that will drive progress. This step involves a detailed review of the current IT infrastructure and an understanding of emerging tools or platforms that align with strategic objectives. For instance, if one of the goals is to streamline data processing and analysis, technologies such as cloud computing services, big data analytics platforms, or machine learning tools may be prioritized.

Engaging IT leadership and subject matter experts can help pinpoint which software, hardware, or IT frameworks are vital for achieving desired outcomes. Start by evaluating current systems to see whether upgrading to newer versions, transitioning to more scalable cloud solutions, or adopting newer tools is necessary. 

3. Perform a Skills Assessment to Identify Gaps In Knowledge 

Once you have the organizational goals that an IT training program can directly support, name the gaps between the current capabilities of your workforce and achieving those goals. What technologies will make the organizational goals a reality? What skills are necessary to operate those technologies? Do your staff have those skills? 

Skill assessments uncover skill gaps in your teams. Skill and technology assessments can and usually should be technical undertakings. They benefit from the input of managers, department leads, and entire IT teams. Techniques like employee surveys, interviews, questionnaires, or performance evaluations can all help pinpoint areas where knowledge is lacking or outdated.

How to Design Your Enterprise Training Program

An enterprise IT training program must include:

• Clear training objectives (that are aligned with business objectives)

• Different training methods

• Use of an LMS integration for tracking, monitoring, and reporting.

With organizational goals in hand and your IT teams’ technological capabilities and skill gaps identified, it’s time to set clear, tangible objectives for the enterprise-based training program.

Set Clear Training Objectives 

Don’t make vague training objectives! With the advice and input of technical teams and managers, determine exactly what level of training and certification will be necessary to accomplish the organizational goals. Start broad by identifying the training and credentials that will be mandatory for all IT team members, and narrow down what positions will have custom requirements based on the technology they’ll use.

Offer Different Training Methods

The right training method is essential in enterprise IT training. For universal IT skills, group training sessions might work well. Workshops and training retreats can break up large subjects into their component parts. In-person workshops can give people the exposure they need to new technologies or capabilities.

Online IT training is the most effective, efficient, and cost-effective method for individual learning and certification. With online IT training, employees learn at their own pace in simulated environments where they practice real-world skills. Plus, you can track progress and monitor completion rates, test scores, and skill development in real-time. Data-driven approaches ensure accountability while revealing where further training might be needed, helping to create a more skilled and adaptable workforce.

Consider an LMS Integration for Tracking and Monitoring

A spreadsheet wizard can figure out how to track all that progress, completion rate, test scores, credentials, and more. But there are more effective (and easier to use!) tools called learning management systems (LMS). These track enterprise IT training requirements by the individual, communicate with other training providers, and make reporting and visualization of progress much more manageable. 

For example, the CBT Nuggets Learning Management System tracks and monitors progress through their catalog of online IT training and tracks credentials while providing training insights.

How to Implement Enterprise IT Training at a Large Company

With a training program developed and tracked in your LMS, the next step is to schedule sessions that accommodate different time zones, departments, and work schedules. 

A mix of live and on-demand training can provide flexibility and boost participation in the enterprise IT training program. If you have an LMS, use it to manage session timings, send reminders, and track attendance. Offer incentives to encourage participation, and be sure to secure support from leadership to emphasize the importance of the IT corporate training program.

To evaluate the training program’s efficacy, you’ll need to monitor engagement metrics, completion rates, and participant feedback. You should also collect data on how the training impacts performance and productivity. Anticipate issues with the availability of resources, materials, and technical support related to the training so that you can keep the pipeline running smoothly.

How to Measure Your Enterprise IT Training’s Effectiveness

Setting KPIs (key performance indicators) will help you measure your enterprise IT training program’s effectiveness. Clear benchmarks that track progress and assess the program's impact include:

• Training completion rates

• Test scores

• Post-training performance improvements

• Network uptime and security metrics

• Productivity levels

Be sure to gather feedback from participants, team leads, and managers. Remember: The reason for building an enterprise IT training program is to better align capabilities with organizational goals. Is that happening? Are members of the IT team better equipped to achieve the organization’s goals? Adjust your enterprise-based training according to the results of these surveys.

FAQs about Enterprise IT Training

At the enterprise level, IT training can be complex. Below, we'll answer the most common questions about enterprise-level IT training. 

What are the Essential Components of an Effective IT Training Program?

• Clear objectives that are aligned with organizational needs

• Needs assessment that identifies skill gaps and training requirements

• Targeted content that is relevant, role-specific, and up-to-date

• Blended learning that mixes online, in-person, and hands-on training methods

• Engagement strategies that incentivize training and credentialing

• Evaluation metrics that measure the effectiveness of the program

• LMS platform that monitors, reports on, and visualizes progress

How Can I Measure The ROI of IT Training in My Enterprise?

Measuring the return on investment of your enterprise IT training program requires hard, tangible productivity metrics. Objective metrics that demonstrate the difference in productivity, downtime, efficiency, and performance before and after individual members and IT teams receive training can prove the dollar value of your enterprise-based training program. Indirect benefits like retention and engagement should also be considered.

How Do I Choose Between In-Person and Online Training for My Team?

In-person enterprise IT training is best for collaborative learning of topics and subjects that are universal to every team member. Online training is more flexible, scalable, and cost-effective. It also provides individualized training to team members with responsibilities that are distinct from the rest of the team.

How Do I Track, Monitor, Schedule, Assess, Visualize, and Report on My Enterprise IT Training?

A Learning Management System (LMS) can help track your enterprise IT training program in accordance with the most common LMS standard, SCORM 3rd Edition. Integrating your LMS is the most versatile way for your team to train with CBT Nuggets and the easiest way to keep tracking and reporting across training providers in one place.

Final Thoughts 

Building an effective IT training program for enterprise companies requires a strategic, well-structured approach. By aligning training initiatives with organizational goals, identifying the essential technologies, and addressing knowledge gaps through thorough skills assessments, businesses can empower their workforce with the tools they need to succeed. 

Learn more about CBT Nuggets' LMS solution.