Cloud spending not impacted by economic woes

Cloud spending does not appear to have been impacted by the current weak economic climate, with 85% of companies increasing or planning to increase cloud spending over the next two years, according to research from Unisys.

A survey conducted by the company found that only 19% of organisations have reached the mature stage of cloud adoption, with 36% still in the planning and initial adoption stage.

Meanwhile, only 15% of respondents reported that their organisation is integrating AI into their business strategies, with 55% admitting that they don’t fully understand the ethical impact of AI.

More than four in 10 (42%) IT leaders expressed concerns about talent gaps and difficulties keeping staff up-to-date on new skills and technologies for cloud adoption. Other notable skills gaps include non-technical interpersonal skills (34%) and a knowledge of both technology and business strategy (32%).

Unisys SVP of cloud, applications and infrastructure solutions Manju Naglapur said addressing these challenges requires a change in mindset. “Embracing a cutting-edge, cloud-native, digital-first mindset will enable organisations to be more agile and unlock growth,” he said. “Enterprises are facing pressures to maximise resources, and this strategic shift will inspire innovation and drive impact.”

On the security front, 78% of respondents reported believing that a breach is likely to occur, but only 58% reported taking a proactive approach to security weaknesses and threats, and only 43% have adopted a Zero Trust security model.

“Strategically shifting to a cloud-native, digital-first mindset includes aligning the C-Suite and IT on shared goals, aligning with business outcomes, advancing cloud technology, navigating ethical AI, and addressing skill concerns,” Naglapur said.

“While it may seem daunting, recalibrating the organisation’s approach will help companies realise business value faster.”

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