Sneak is aware that IT managers sometimes get a bad name amongst their fellow staff for being poo-pooers and naysayers. Well, at this most wonderful time of the year it appears that the spirit of Scrooge is alive and well, according to one vendor.

Data protection firm Safeboot has just released research saying that IT managers are terrified of the coming post Christmas period, when their staff will ignore their ban on non-authorised external devices and literally plug into the network every toy they have received from Santa. Um, possibly. But Sneak reckons there may be other things on IT managers’ minds after the break that are more worrying; compliance, the environment, budgetary constraints, career development, getting rid of the 10 pounds you put on over Christmas, the World Cup qualifiers, your Northern Rock shares etc etc.