When the books close on 2008, it will go down as one of the most turbulent and transformative years in the modern era. The year was marked by the presidential election, economic recession, energy crunch and relentless technology advancements. These issues and many more created opportunities and challenges for solution providers and the technology community.

With each challenge and opportunity, solution providers turned to Channel Insider for insight and guidance. What was important to solution providers is reflected in the most popular articles based on gross Web traffic. The following is what Channel Insider readers made most popular in 2008.

Economy, Recession and the Falling Sky
Not since the Great Depression in the 1930s has the United States and the world seen an economic crisis on the scale of the 2008 recession. Channel Insider was on the front lines of how the slowing economy was affecting the technology sector and solution provider businesses with its special report “Economic Realities: Solution Providers Under Pressure,” based on exclusive research. It came as no surprise that the recession was forcing changes among end users when Channel Insider published “Businesses Slash Spending Across the Board.” To help solution providers keep tabs on the faltering economy, Channel Insider created its Economy Watch, a special section devoted exclusively to economic issues.

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Tech Jobs: Help Wanted (Really)
Sure, the U.S. economy shed nearly 2 million jobs in 2008 and the jobs forecast is bleak for the next two quarters. Still, the tech community says it still struggles in finding qualified technology and sales talent. In Channel Insider’s special report “IT Jobs: Solution Providers Speak Out on Talent Crisis,” solution providers could see the issues their peers are dealing with in filling and retaining qualified employees.