CDW’s 2024 Cloud Computing Report provides a comprehensive look at the evolving landscape of cloud technology. Based on insights from over 900 IT decision-makers across industries, the research examines how organizations manage their cloud environments, balance emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, and navigate the roadblocks that can hinder success. It highlights the progress businesses have made, the ongoing challenges they face, and the strategic shifts required to optimize cloud investments.
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Confidence in Cloud Management – But Challenges Remain
One interesting finding is the confidence in cloud management. An impressive 88% of respondents feel they can effectively manage their cloud workloads, with many attributing this capability to advancements in cloud management platforms and skilled in-house staff. However, this comfort hasn’t been without obstacles. A lack of cloud governance or strategy remains a significant challenge, cited by 63% of respondents as a hindrance to cloud management efforts, alongside familiar issues like skill shortages and security concerns. These hurdles, which are stalling some companies’ returns on investment, underscore the need for streamlined strategies to maximize efficiency.
Why This Matters
The findings in the CDW report aren’t just about technical wins or operational stats. Instead, they’re a direct reflection of how organizations are gearing up for the next decade of digital transformation. Cloud infrastructure has become the backbone of modern business, supporting everything from remote work to advanced AI applications. Yet, without addressing challenges like governance and security, companies risk missing out on the competitive advantages that cloud solutions can provide.
According to the Financial Times, as more industries like banking adopt cloud solutions to enhance digital services, they face heightened cybersecurity risks. The shift to cloud infrastructure opens new potential vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit, emphasizing the importance of robust governance and security practices. CDW experts caution that, despite comfort with cloud management, IT leaders should avoid complacency as cloud capabilities rapidly evolve. Staying current with cloud advancements is essential for avoiding risks and keeping pace with industry standards.
The Wins: Reliability, Resilience, and Agility
Despite these hurdles, many organizations are realizing significant wins from their cloud investments. Reliability and resilience are often highlighted as top benefits, with 57% reporting improved recovery capabilities. Cloud solutions are also helping businesses increase accessibility for remote teams and boost agility, with 51% of respondents noting that cloud infrastructure has made their organizations more efficient.
The emphasis on these gains echoes the industry’s move to build more robust, flexible infrastructures. The Wall Street Journal reports that companies are ramping up their data capabilities to support high data processing demands and storage needs driven by AI and deep learning. The CDW report underscores how businesses are aligning their cloud strategies with the specific demands of their sector to maintain continuity and scalability.
The AI Factor: Opportunities and Ongoing Challenges
AI workloads are another focal point in the report, with 68% of organizations using AI in some capacity and over half running these workloads in hybrid cloud environments. However, AI presents its own challenges: 45% of respondents cited data quality as a critical issue, and 43% noted the high costs associated with AI technology. This indicates that AI offers exciting opportunities but requires careful planning and significant resources to achieve a meaningful impact.
This trend reflects broader industry investments. According to Reuters, major tech players like Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon have been pouring resources into AI-focused data centers to support demand. These investments, while essential, have raised concerns among investors about costs and long-term returns. CDW’s findings resonate with this reality, suggesting that successful AI adoption requires investment in infrastructure and a forward-looking cloud strategy that can adapt to changing business needs.
Security: A Top Priority with Room for Improvement
Security remains a top priority for IT leaders leveraging the cloud. Nearly half of respondents indicated that cloud adoption has improved their overall security posture, thanks to advancements in native cloud security tools. However, concerns about privacy and AI-related security remain, especially among organizations still exploring or scaling AI capabilities. Security challenges were even cited as a primary reason for repatriating some cloud workloads back on-premises.
The emphasis on security reflects the industry’s broader trend toward strengthening defenses. Many organizations recognize the value of security tools offered by cloud providers, which are often built into standard services. As CDW’s findings suggest, these tools can help organizations achieve a higher degree of compliance and protection without overburdening in-house IT teams.
Financial Visibility and Strategic Cost Management
As cloud adoption grows, spending visibility and cost management have become focal points for organizations. CDW’s research reveals that a large majority of respondents feel confident tracking their cloud expenditures, though cost optimization remains an area where many organizations could improve. The report suggests that adopting FinOps practices—aligning cloud spending with business objectives—can further refine cost management, especially as workloads scale.
Looking Ahead: Balancing Innovation with Practical Challenges
Ultimately, this report isn’t just for IT specialists; it’s a resource for any decision-maker who recognizes that today’s cloud choices will shape their organization’s future capabilities and resilience. The report reveals how IT teams are navigating a time of tech upheaval, balancing innovation with the ongoing realities of skills gaps, governance needs, and budget constraints.
Elizabeth Wallace is a Nashville-based freelance writer with a soft spot for data science and AI and a background in linguistics. She spent 13 years teaching language in higher ed and now helps startups and other organizations explain – clearly – what it is they do.
