Admit it, you hate IT. They block access to Facebook and YouTube, you can’t use your favorite browser, and they won’t let you listen to iTunes at work. Sometimes they make you feel like a little kid, having to beg for permission to use the latest software or online service. And they’re slow. The last request you made was in 2006, and you’re still waiting for a response.

With all of the issues you have with IT, it may be tempting to try to go around them. You might want to install that software or try that service no matter what your company policy states. Before you take that step, think about the consequences and read on for some alternative ways to approach your IT problems.

Your IT Department is responsible for providing you with networking and application services. They are charged with ensuring that those services are properly maintained and protected. Yes, they are the “Technology Cops,” and sometimes they prevent you from moving forward with your work, but there is a very good reason for their reluctance to install your “beta” software packages. With technology, change can be very bad. Any small change in a system can cause unforeseen results. If email goes down, or the document management system crashes due to a virus or unruly application, IT will suffer the consequences. Those consequences can mean many late nights of diagnosing and fixing errors, or it can mean a person’s job. IT doesn’t want to prevent you from getting your work done, but caution is often necessary in maintaining a working, stable infrastructure.

If you’re a business user who wants to use some of the latest software and services, but your IT department is holding you back, there are some strategies that you can employ to make the system work for you. If you think you can install that software and ask for forgiveness later, you’d better be absolutely sure that you’ll receive that forgiveness. In some companies, if you violate IT policies, you’d better be ready to bet your job on getting that forgiveness.

Rather than fighting your IT group, try the following suggestions. The end result may take a little longer, but you’ll have much more confidence in a positive outcome.

Ask an IT person about his or her area of expertise

IT people are busy, but most of them love to talk about technology. It’s easy to send a personal note to an IT person, perhaps someone you don’t even know, and ask them to share a little advice with you. I’ve seen people take time to discuss programming languages with night school students, or answer questions about software for research projects. Those conversations can result in a personal connection with an IT person. It can gain you a powerful advocate who may assist you with setting up your own technology sandbox.

Hire your own tech expert

This approach can work, if done properly. The key here is to avoid ruffling the feathers of your existing IT staff. You can talk with the head of your applications group, saying something along these lines, “Hey, you’re swamped, and I want to help. Can I bring in a technical consultant who will work with your team? They’ll follow all of your standards, but I think it would be helpful if they worked closely with my business group.” This person can later become your conduit with the IT department, explaining the technology that you want to employ, and assuring them that it will not impact the existing security and networking infrastructure.

Talk with your CIO

If you’re discussing items with your Director of Applications or Director of Networking, you’re probably talking with the wrong person. These people are focused on current projects, of which there are usually too many, and they want to keep things stable. They aren’t interested in experimentation and the latest ideas. Ask for a meeting with the CIO and explain your case; what do you want to accomplish; how might the company be seen as behind when compared with competitors who are already using the technology?

Put on a demo for IT

Many IT people like to learn about new technology and want to understand how it can be used to benefit the business. Put on a demo of some of the software that you’re interested in using. Be prepared for know-it-all comments and geek hazing, but realize that you’ll more than likely still be getting your point across and gaining acceptance. Here’s the trick for getting IT people to show up to your demo: provide free food.

Offer to purchase equipment from your budget and share hardware with other applications

If you have a budget that will allow you to move the funds to IT for the purchase of equipment, make an offer to one of the directors. It’s difficult for IT people to pass up hardware. Ask them which of their existing applications might be able to share your hardware.

No Silver Bullet

None of these recommendations are guaranteed to get you what you want from your IT Department. However, give some of these strategies a try before breaking the rules. Remember, IT isn’t trying to prevent you from doing your job, but it’s their responsibility to protect your company’s systems, and sometimes, maybe, just maybe, they know better than you which software is wrong for your environment.