The latest research from the Cloud Industry Forum (CIF) reveals that the overall cloud adoption rate in the UK now stands at 88%, with 67% of users expecting to increase their adoption of cloud services over the coming year.
It’s safe to say this industry is growing rapidly. Several key trends have accelerated this growth — some of which are already reshaping the industry, while others will continue to do in the future.
This article will delve into some of the latest cloud managed service trends and the opportunities they could present to an ever-changing industry. These trends include:
- Remote Working: A Shift That’s Here to Stay
- The Fast-Growing Adoption of Automated Solutions
- Tech Budgets Are Starting to Grow
- The Need for a Secure System
- The Transition to More Consolidated Solutions
1. Remote Working: A Shift That’s Here to Stay
Working from bedrooms and makeshift home offices for eight hours a day, hopping from one virtual meeting to another. When the pandemic began, we didn’t have a choice. But before we knew it, remote working became the new normal and it looks like a trend that’s here to stay.
It’s believed that around 30% of the UK workforce currently works remotely at least once a week. It has therefore become an absolute necessity for businesses to invest in cloud technology to optimise their remote workforces’ productivity and ensure they can continue delivering their services.
The combination of software, platform and infrastructure as a service creates a seamless process for employees as they can access any on-premise and cloud environments behind a single web portal.
Solutions such as Microsoft 365 provide a powerful suite of tools and applications that are the perfect, industry-leading accompaniment to a remote workforce. Discover the reasons why in another article we’ve written.
2. The Fast-Growing Adoption of Automated Solutions
Manual tasks. They eat away at time and significantly impact productivity. That’s why more and more business leaders are looking toward automation as a solution.
In the cybersecurity industry, research shows that nearly a third of organisations have accelerated their plans to automate key security and IR processes. Another 85% plan on automating them in the next 12 months.
Another reason why automation is growing in popularity is it supports businesses in achieving their digital transformation goals. We’re living in an era where the digital skills gap is growing at speed.
With a cloud managed service provider, businesses can feel rest assured that they have an expert by their side who can support employees with their digital skills challenges and ensure they continue to enhance customer engagement.
3. Tech Budgets Are Starting to Grow
Research shows that around 53% of businesses plan to increase tech spending or keep budgets the same year on year. This has been driven by a need for businesses to adopt more digital transformation initiatives — and cloud managed services are at the heart of this vision.
Additionally, increased security concerns and employee growth have made a resurgence as drivers for IT budget growth this year, as many businesses look to meet the needs of their employees by securing workers both in-office and remotely.
As budgets increase, so do the opportunities for cloud managed service providers. The same research also found a significant increase in the percentage of total IT budgets going toward hosted/cloud-based services — from 22% in 2020 to 26% in 2022.
4. The Need for a Secure System
Although remote working and increased IT adoption present many opportunities for businesses, challenges can also arise around security and avoiding data breaches.
Recent statistics show that 39% of UK businesses identified a cyberattack in the last 12 months. Therefore, many are turning to managed service providers to support their security needs.
Not only can a managed service provider help secure their infrastructure, but they can also continually monitor, defend and optimise security measures and regulations.
This can be done by providing a compliance and risk audit to help business leaders understand the compliance risks related to their organisational data and offer a structured approach to mapping these risks.
5. The Transition to More Consolidated Solutions
Disparate systems cost employees time and increase frustration. Furthermore, they also hinder businesses' security infrastructure and can significantly impact profitability.
That’s why more businesses are looking to invest in consolidated systems such as Microsoft 365 Business Premium. A consolidated system can improve a range of business areas, including data storage, monitoring and management, and security and protection.
It also helps standardise processes and people's working days, which is one of the most effective ways to achieve greater efficiency.
Consolidating your technology with a single provider can streamline costs too. The managed service provider charges a monthly, consolidated fee. Instead of managing several bills for every technology, businesses pay a single, consistent fee, which also makes budgeting much easier.
These are just a few of the cloud managed services trends impacting the IT industry and will continue to do so in the future. But as an IT manager, finding the right service provider to meet your needs or knowing how to make the most out of your current solution can be tricky.
That’s why we’ve created a blueprint to help you.
Take Your Business to the Next Level By Making the Most Out Of Microsoft 365
You may already be using Microsoft 365 or are considering investing in it in the future. Regardless of where you stand, you may find challenges in making the most out of the solution.
In our new resource, we’ve provided plenty of guidance on how you and your employees can make the most out of Microsoft 365 to ensure you see a return on your investment.
The guide also compares the service levels available, including a breakdown of the features available and the different benefits of each. Ready to get started? Access your copy of the guide below.
