Top 10 Blogs Every IT Worker Should Read

With all of the changes in the digital arena, from cloud-based data storage to international e-commerce, information technology is one of the most rapidly developing professional fields today. That means that if you work in this field, you need to remain ahead of new developments that are relevant to your position. Read on to find out the top 10 blogs every IT worker should read on a regular basis.

1. Tech Sanity Check, written by TechRepublic Editor in Chief Jason Hiner, gives a realistic perspective on new products, developments and technologies in the IT world. With his broad knowledge of the field and its growth to date, he is in a unique position to provide a sanity check to any hype so IT leaders can make informed decisions.
2. Cracking Open. Have you ever felt so overwhelmed by new products that you literally did not know which one to choose? Well, instead of flipping a coin and letting chance decide, head over to Cracking Open where Bill Detwiler, Head Technology Editor of TechRepublic provides honest insights into the latest products. His laser-guided vision does not stop at the surface, either: he dissects products' internal components in order to share where the real changes, improvements and potential issues lie.
3. Another TechRepublic blog, Tech Decision Maker, provides valuable insights for IT leadership. Whether you are an experienced IT leader or a high-level manager striving to make better decisions for your IT department, this blog gives you the skinny on subjects like managing change in the IT department, new big data skills and the advantages of process automation.
4. As the name promises, Dr. Chaos diagnoses IT problems, discusses them and, more often than not, prescribes effective solutions. Written by leading security architect Aamir Lakhani, the blog often uses real life examples to cover topics such as data breach, personnel security and open source software.
5. Senior Technical Evangelist at Microsoft, Keith Mayer maintains an information heavy blog at Technet.com. His down-to-earth perspective provides a straightforward way of understanding developments and products, and since he often supports his insights with tables and summaries, it is the perfect place to research IT issues you might deal with at any given point in time.
6. Do you work in the public sector? If so, Polycom's blog The Public Sector View might be just the blog for you. According to Fed Tech Magazine, news and analysis featured in this blog will become increasingly more important as telework and mobility in the workplace increase. With posts divided into Federal, State and Local, Education and Healthcare, you can quickly search topics that are of importance to your field.
7. CrunchGov, "where Silicon Valley meets governance," is another blog public sector IT professionals should have on their must-read lists. Primarily focused on current news in the IT world, the blog makes it easy to stay up to date on political developments in the field. Recent topics include Read Snowden's Appeal for Political Asylum to Fight the NSA from Brazil; Tim Draper Wants to Split California Into Pieces and Turn Silicon Valley Into Its Own State and Obama's NSA Task Force Recommends Major Reforms.
8. Are you an open source aficionado? In that case, toss out the newspaper and read TechRepublic's blog Linux and Open Source over your morning coffee instead. As the title promises, developments and distributions pertaining to Linus and open source are discussed so IT professionals gain a clear understanding of the advantages and pitfalls of these systems and software. It is an invaluable source of information for those whose departments rely heavily on open source or are planning to integrate it into their systems.
9. DigitalGov is all about IT innovation in government. Focused on digital trends, online media and social media, the blog is full of useful information and insights for public workers about how the government is using the Internet and digital resources to the advantage of both federal agencies and citizens alike.
10. Last, but certainly not least, Career Management is a must-read for IT professionals looking to get more out of their careers. Written by TechRepublic's Head Blogs Editor Toni Bowers, the blog focuses on subjects like how to shine in the workplace, traits of successful leaders and writing effective resumes.

From data storage to integrated security systems, IT is an important and ever-evolving aspect of our information age. Take some time out of your busy schedule to stay informed of developments and rise to the top of your profession.