Research and Insights: How Midsize Businesses Invest in Cloud and SaaS
Cisco and IDG’s global study of midsize organisations revealed what’s top of mind for business and IT leaders.
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Midsize IT Approaches: By the numbers
Cisco and IDG surveyed midsize companies across the globe.
49%
of midsize businesses say that legacy, siloed infrastructure is their biggest obstacle.
1in 2
56% of midsize companies plan to increase software investments this year.
#1
Cloud security is the number one SaaS solution that midsize organisations will invest in this year.
Midsize Companies Embrace the Cloud and SaaS in 2021
Midsize companies have navigated an era of unprecedented change with the help of cloud technologies, according to new IDG research. That’s because the cloud offers vital flexibility for organisational transformation amid rapidly evolving business goals. And that flexibility will remain critical into the foreseeable future as many people continue working from home.
To get a handle on exactly how companies are adapting (specifically, midsize companies with 100-999 employees), IDG and Cisco polled business leaders responsible for IT purchases on what they plan to purchase and why, what challenges they face for procurement, and how recent events have impacted their plans.
Midsize companies have navigated an era of unprecedented change with the help of cloud technologies, according to new IDG research. That’s because the cloud offers vital flexibility for organisational transformation amid rapidly evolving business goals. And that flexibility will remain critical into the foreseeable future as many people continue working from home.
To get a handle on exactly how companies are adapting (specifically, midsize companies with 100-999 employees), IDG and Cisco polled business leaders responsible for IT purchases on what they plan to purchase and why, what challenges they face for procurement, and how recent events have impacted their plans.
What Drives Investment
Overall, the survey found, midsize companies need greater operational efficiency—and that efficiency must drive improved profitability. They also need more robust security than ever before. And technology holds promise for realising all three goals.
Ironically, however, technology is also the #1 obstacle to achieving efficiency and profitability. It hinders security upgrades. Nearly half of the companies surveyed remain challenged by legacy and siloed systems. The challenges also span multiple locations since two-thirds of the companies surveyed report having to support more than one office.
Reflecting where companies perceive the greatest potential bang for their buck, respondents say they plan to prioritise investments in cybersecurity, the cloud, and hardware. And it all starts with goal #1: operating more efficiently in a time of disruption (cited by 44% of leaders at midsize companies).
Hand-in-hand with that goal was improving profitability (40%), since efficiency improves the bottom line.
Strengthen Security and Reduce Risk
56% of midsize companies say that cybersecurity is their top IT investment area. Get a deep-dive analysis from IDG on how your midsize business can reduce risk and build out a successful cloud security strategy.
Increase Efficiency and Profitability
Increasing operational efficiency was the #1 business goal cited by midsize companies (44%) in the IDG/Cisco survey. Profitability was the #2 goal, cited by 40% of respondents. IDG explores how companies can leverage IT investments to attain these goals.