News in the Channel - issue #20

NEWS

citing it as the foremost challenge for IT departments and 45% of IT service providers

respondents indicating a strong preference for all-in-one solutions that can manage multiple tasks and processes without requiring multiple tools, and 21% saying they prioritise access to comprehensive IT documentation, reflecting the need for centralised and easily accessible information. The focus on deep integration tools was down sharply from years past, suggesting that companies may have reached a satisfactory integration level or are adopting more comprehensive solutions that require less integration effort. Most respondents expect that ongoing economic uncertainty will primarily affect spending on software (39%), hardware (36%) and headcount (26%). Furthermore, 40% of respondents have displayed a growing inclination toward shorter contract periods with vendors. This shift might stem from volatile economic conditions, where shorter, more adaptable contracts may mitigate long-term risks. Additionally, this shift suggests a desire for greater control and agility in responding to emerging challenges and opportunities.

considering it the top area to add or change solutions in the next budget cycle. This includes investments in security awareness training (45%), email security (43%), penetration testing (36%) and vulnerability scanning (35%). Half of the respondents prioritise increasing their budget for IT security over other areas,

such as AI for IT efficiency and end user productivity,

demonstrating the importance placed on ensuring robust cybersecurity measures within organisations. Consistent data from 2023 to 2024 shows that businesses value the efficiency and productivity of tools. Specifically, 42% of respondents advocate prioritising the efficiency of IT processes, a trend that has been steadily increasing over the past three years. Moreover, emphasis was placed on the completeness of solutions, with 42% of

kaseya.com

New research reveals need for hybrid cloud storage strategies

Research has found that 65% of IT decision- makers are rushing to hybrid cloud with cybersecurity risks and AI on the rise. Nasuni’s report entitled, ‘ The Era of Hybrid Cloud Storage ’ includes insights from more than 1,000 IT purchasing decision makers in the US, UK and DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) on hybrid cloud, digital transformation, security and artificial intelligence (AI). Key takeaways: l Cloud strategies are at the forefront of enterprise success: Enterprises are rapidly moving forward with rolling out or planning cloud-first initiatives (according to 97% of respondents) to help grow their businesses, which includes significant investments in data management, analytics, AI and cybersecurity l Hybrid cloud is business critical for proper data management: While only 19% of companies have a hybrid cloud storage model, 65% plan to implement one within the next year. Of those currently using a hybrid cloud solution, 70% plan to upgrade within the next 18 months l Data recovery and security is a primary driver for cloud solutions: Data recovery

is the number one priority for firms when faced with a ransomware attack, with 59% of organisations seeing cloud initiatives delivering better data security and disaster recovery time

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l The growing role of data intelligence and AI: Organisations are targeting advanced data management and visibility through AI (60%). However, the biggest roadblocks preventing organisations from either developing or implementing AI solutions are data privacy and security (42%) and skills shortages (35%). “As hybrid cloud storage takes centre stage, organisations need strategies to capitalise on their most valuable asset: data,” said David Grant, president of Nasuni. “In tandem, they need strategies for addressing critical IT issues including ransomware attacks and the introduction of AI integrations to the market. Legacy storage solutions cannot keep up with these demands.”

David Grant president

nansuni.com