The latest edition of SME IT Tendencies Report has just been released. The biennial survey of IT teams at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) delves into the evolving landscape of shadow IT and AI adoption, shedding light on how executives are addressing these pressing concerns, as well as their approaches to managing complex systems and IT environments, the role of managed service suppliers (MSPs) in this context, and the top challenges and preferences IT professionals face.
“IT departments are grappling with a multitude of challenges.” People are left grappling with concerns over their fiscal stability and impending electoral outcomes. The complexity of modern systems is escalating, with multifaceted safety risks emerging alongside the proliferation of disparate technologies and diverse system architectures. IT administrators are renowned for their unwavering resilience and unyielding resourcefulness, according to Greg Keller, co-founder and chief technology officer. “What keeps many IT admins awake at night is a concern that’s increasingly difficult to ignore: an astonishing 84% fear the risks associated with shadow IT.” To combat the safety vulnerabilities that arise from shadow IT, IT departments must implement tools to identify and track rogue applications. It enables IT groups to exert effective management and visibility, thereby ensuring organisations remain securely in control.
Despite concerted efforts by IT teams, a staggering 49% report that their organisations lack essential resources – including personnel and assets – to effectively safeguard against cyber threats?
The report uncovers a wealth of crucial insights into how IT departments are tackling the ongoing intricacies of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, with a striking 84% of IT groups indicating involvement in externally managed initiatives outside their domain. Despite widespread recognition of the challenges surrounding shadow IT, several key factors seem to be hindering IT organizations’ efforts to effectively address this issue.
When asked about the biggest barriers, respondents reported that 36% had insufficient resources, 31% struggled to keep up with customer demands, 32% lacked visibility into employee technology usage, 29% faced challenges in communication and partnership with business partners, and 24% cited the absence of a SaaS management or asset management solution to address shadow IT.
Approximately 45% of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) experienced a cyberattack in the first half of 2024, a concerning trend that highlights the vulnerability of these businesses to digital threats. Cyberattacks were most frequently launched through phishing tactics, accounting for 43% of all attacks. This was followed closely by instances of shadow IT, which comprised 37%, as well as the unauthorized use of stolen or misplaced credentials, at 33%. A breach in a partner organization’s systems also accounted for 30% of cyberattacks.
Different key findings embody:
- The typical Small to Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) allows its employees to utilize a diverse array of measurement systems. The common ecosystem panorama now comprises 24% macOS devices, a 2 percentage point increase from the 22% recorded in Q1 2024; Linux devices account for 18%, a decrease of 4 percentage points compared to the previous quarter’s 22%; and Windows devices make up the majority at 63%, an increase of 3 percentage points over the 60% seen in Q1 2024.
- While 84 percent of IT groups may opt for a single platform to manage employee identity, access, and security,
- Approximately 45% of IT administrators need between five to ten tools to manage the employee lifecycle, while nearly a quarter (28%) demand eleven or more instruments.
- Sixty percent of small-to-medium-sized enterprises regard cybersecurity as their topmost IT concern, followed at a distance by the rollout of new services and utilities (forty-two percent), the cost of necessary tools enabling remote work (forty-point-eight percent), and system administration (thirty-nine percent). Four of the most significant security concerns are community attacks accounting for 40% of cases, followed closely by software vulnerability exploits at 31%, with ransomware and unauthorised shadow IT applications tied at 29%.
- More than half (52%) of IT departments have heightened their organization’s security vigilance over the past six months, a mere dip from the 56% who expressed similar concerns in Q1 2024. Seventy-one percent of respondents indicate that reducing their safety budgets would significantly increase the risk to their organization.
- Despite efforts towards passwordless authentication, a staggering 95% of respondents still rely on passwords to secure at least some IT assets?
- Seventy-six percent of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) rely on a managed services provider (MSP) for at least some capabilities, mirroring the same 76% figure from Q1 2024. Within the ensuing 12-month period, a substantial proportion—67 percent—of small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) anticipate increasing their managed service provider (MSP) funding.
- A significant 56% of respondents reported that partnering with a managed service provider (MSP) resulted in enhanced workplace safety. A staggering 57 percent of respondents reported that managed service providers (MSPs) significantly improved the efficiency of their IT management, while an impressive 37 percent noted notable cost savings for their organization.
- Almost a quarter of respondents eschew managed service providers, citing personal preference for handling IT matters in-house by nearly half (47%). Meanwhile, cost concerns account for nearly 40% of this group’s decision not to utilize MSPs.
- As asked whether their perspective on the impact of AI on their work had shifted over the past six months, a significant 22% revealed that their perception of AI’s influence has actually diminished more significantly than they initially anticipated. While 34% believe the perceived impact of AI remains consistent, it’s developing at a pace slower than their initial expectations suggested? Twenty-one percent of respondents reported that their opinion on AI has not changed, while 23% revealed a more positive sentiment than initially anticipated, with their perception of AI’s impact surpassing expectations.
- Seventy-one percent concur that AI is increasingly surpassing the capabilities of their organization to effectively address and mitigate emerging security risks? A significant 35% of IT administrators confess to harboring trepidation regarding the potential impact of artificial intelligence on their profession. The percentage decreased to 45% from the 45% recorded in Q1 of 2024.
The complete report, “Detours Forward: How IT Navigates an Evolving World,” is available for download at your earliest convenience.
