Spiceworks Launches 13th Annual State of IT Report: Rising Costs, AI Investments, and Workforce Challenges Take Center Stage
Spiceworks has released its 13th Annual State of IT report, revealing key trends for 2025. The report indicates that 64% of organizations plan to increase IT spending, with security and generative AI as primary investment areas. Key challenges include rising costs and IT labor shortages, with 57% of senior tech leaders struggling to hire skilled talent. The study highlights a significant gap in budget perception, as 54% of IT staff believe technology spending is insufficient, compared to only 15% of senior leaders. Organizations show flexibility in vendor selection, willing to change providers for 59% of their technologies. The report also reveals resource disparities between large and small businesses, particularly in security and AI implementation.
Spiceworks ha pubblicato il suo 13° rapporto annuale sullo stato dell'IT, rivelando tendenze chiave per il 2025. Il rapporto indica che il 64% delle organizzazioni prevede di aumentare la spesa per IT, con la sicurezza e l'IA generativa come principali aree di investimento. Tra le sfide principali ci sono l'aumento dei costi e la carenza di personale IT, con il 57% dei leader tecnologici senior che fatica a trovare talenti qualificati. Lo studio evidenzia un significativo divario nella percezione del budget, poiché il 54% del personale IT ritiene che la spesa tecnologica sia insufficiente, rispetto al solo 15% dei leader senior. Le organizzazioni mostrano flessibilità nella selezione dei fornitori, essendo disposte a cambiare fornitore per il 59% delle loro tecnologie. Il rapporto rivela anche disparità nelle risorse tra grandi e piccole imprese, in particolare nella sicurezza e nell'implementazione dell'IA.
Spiceworks ha publicado su 13° informe anual sobre el estado de la TI, revelando tendencias clave para 2025. El informe indica que el 64% de las organizaciones planea aumentar su gasto en TI, siendo la seguridad y la IA generativa las principales áreas de inversión. Los principales desafíos incluyen el aumento de los costos y la escasez de mano de obra en TI, con el 57% de los líderes tecnológicos senior luchando por contratar talento calificado. El estudio destaca una brecha significativa en la percepción del presupuesto, ya que el 54% del personal de TI cree que el gasto en tecnología es insuficiente, en contraste con solo el 15% de los líderes senior. Las organizaciones muestran flexibilidad en la selección de proveedores, dispuestas a cambiar de proveedor para el 59% de sus tecnologías. El informe también revela disparidades en los recursos entre grandes y pequeñas empresas, especialmente en la seguridad y la implementación de la IA.
스파이스웍스가 2025년의 주요 트렌드를 밝힌 제13회 연례 IT 보고서를 발표했습니다. 보고서에 따르면, 64%의 조직이 IT 지출을 늘릴 계획을 갖고 있습니다, 보안과 생성 AI가 주요 투자 분야로 언급되었습니다. 주요 도전 과제는 상승하는 비용과 IT 인력 부족이며, 57%의 수석 기술 리더들이 숙련된 인재를 채용하는 데 어려움을 겪고 있습니다. 연구는 예산 인식의 큰 차이를 강조하며, 54%의 IT 직원이 기술 지출이 불충분하다고 생각하는 반면, 오직 15%의 수석 리더만이 그러한 의견을 가지고 있습니다. 조직들은 공급자 선택에서 유연성을 보이며, 59%의 기술에 대해 공급자를 변경할 의향이 있습니다. 보고서는 또한 보안과 AI 실행에서 큰 기업과 중소기업 간의 자원 불균형을 드러냅니다.
Spiceworks a publié son 13e rapport annuel sur l'état de l'IT, révélant les principales tendances pour 2025. Le rapport indique que 64 % des organisations prévoient d'augmenter leurs dépenses en IT, la sécurité et l'IA générative étant les principales zones d'investissement. Les principaux défis incluent la hausse des coûts et les pénuries de main-d'œuvre en IT, 57 % des dirigeants technologiques seniors ayant du mal à recruter des talents qualifiés. L'étude souligne un écart significatif dans la perception du budget, 54 % du personnel IT pensant que les dépenses technologiques sont insuffisantes, contre seulement 15 % des dirigeants seniors. Les organisations montrent de la flexibilité dans le choix des fournisseurs, prêtes à changer de fournisseur pour 59 % de leurs technologies. Le rapport révèle également des disparités de ressources entre les grandes et les petites entreprises, en particulier dans le domaine de la sécurité et de l'implémentation de l'IA.
Spiceworks hat seinen 13. jährlichen IT-Zustandsbericht veröffentlicht, der wichtige Trends für 2025 offenbart. Der Bericht zeigt, dass 64% der Organisationen planen, ihre IT-Ausgaben zu erhöhen, wobei Sicherheit und generative KI die Hauptinvestitionsbereiche sind. Zu den wichtigsten Herausforderungen gehören steigende Kosten und ein Mangel an IT-Fachkräften, wobei 57% der leitenden Technologieführer Schwierigkeiten haben, qualifiziertes Personal einzustellen. Die Studie hebt eine signifikante Diskrepanz in der Budgetwahrnehmung hervor, da 54% des IT-Personals der Meinung sind, dass die Technologiekosten unzureichend sind, im Vergleich zu nur 15% der leitenden Führungskräfte. Die Organisationen zeigen Flexibilität bei der Auswahl von Anbietern und sind bereit, bei 59% ihrer Technologien den Anbieter zu wechseln. Der Bericht zeigt auch Ressourcenunterschiede zwischen großen und kleinen Unternehmen auf, insbesondere bei der Sicherheits- und KI-Implementierung.
- 64% of organizations planning to increase IT spending
- 43% of businesses plan to increase IT staff in 2025
- Organizations showing flexibility with 59% willing to change technology vendors
- 57% of senior tech leaders struggling with hiring skilled IT talent
- Significant budget perception gap between IT staff and leadership
- Resource disparities between large and small businesses in security and AI implementation
- Rising product costs impacting IT operations
- Only 63% of IT professionals confident in cybersecurity abilities
Insights
The 2025 State of IT report reveals significant market dynamics that will shape technology investments and business strategies. The projected 64% increase in IT spending across organizations, particularly in security and AI, signals robust growth opportunities for technology vendors. However, the stark disparity in budget perception between IT staff and leadership (54% vs 15%) indicates potential operational friction.
The high vendor flexibility rate of 59% creates both opportunities and risks in the enterprise technology market. This openness to switching vendors, combined with rising costs and labor shortages, suggests a shifting competitive landscape where cost-effectiveness and value demonstration will be important for market share.
The significant gap between large and small businesses in security and AI capabilities - with larger organizations being 3x more likely to have dedicated security staff and 5x more likely to have AI-focused roles - indicates a growing market segmentation that vendors and investors should carefully consider.
Powered by Aberdeen Strategy & Research, the Annual Report Will Be Showcased at SpiceWorld, Where Industry Expert Peter Tsai Will Share Key Findings
The 2025 report highlights the growing importance of security, the rising cost of IT resources, and the critical need for talent development in the face of skills shortages, providing companies with a roadmap to plan for resilience and innovation.
Key Findings from the 2025 State of IT Report
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Escalating IT Costs and Workforce Shortages
IT leaders report that rising product costs and IT labor shortages rank as their most significant anticipated challenges in 2025. This trend underscores the need for efficient processes, employee retention, and experimenting with new solutions that might help companies work to maintain service quality despite resource limitations. -
Security and Generative AI Drive IT Budget Priorities
Reflecting the central role of technology in business operations,64% of organizations intend to boost IT spending, with security and generative AI representing the areas most likely to see investment growth. More than half of companies (53% ) report that heightened security concerns drive this budget increase. -
Concerns Over IT Spending Sufficiency Across Job Roles
Despite the uptick in budgets, there is a clear disparity within organizations over whether these funds meet actual needs. Over half (54% ) of IT staff feel their organization’s technology spending falls short, contrasting with just19% of IT managers and15% of senior leaders. This disconnect indicates a pressing need for greater alignment on budget expectations. -
Flexible Vendor Preferences Reflect Changing Technology Needs
IT departments are actively seeking cost savings and willing to adapt, with businesses open to changing vendors for59% of the technologies they use, on average. This flexibility underscores the importance for vendors to demonstrate superior value, clear differentiation, and cost-effectiveness in a competitive market to retain clients. It also creates opportunities for vendors to gain market share from competitors who don’t follow suit. -
Talent Retention Poses Challenges even as Demand Increases
Hiring skilled IT talent remains challenging for57% of senior tech leaders, as43% of businesses plan to increase IT staff in 2025. Large enterprises, in particular, are twice as likely as smaller firms to expand their IT teams. -
Career Growth Requires Essential Skills and Certifications
The report highlights skills gaps, with only63% of IT professionals confident in their cybersecurity abilities and53% in their coding skills. Notably, Gen Z respondents are twice as likely as Boomers to view AI prompting as a crucial skill, showing a shift toward AI readiness. -
Small and Large Businesses Experience Resource Disparities in Security and AI
Larger organizations are three times more likely than small businesses to employ dedicated security staff and five times as likely to have AI-focused roles. These findings suggest that smaller companies may fall behind due to limited resources, highlighting a need for scalable solutions for leaner teams.
LIVESTREAM OF STATE OF IT RESEARCH
To bring these findings directly to industry professionals, Spiceworks is hosting a dedicated session at this year’s SpiceWorld conference in
CUSTOMIZED READ-OUTS
To receive a personalized read-out, including additional research segmentation by size, region, and industry, companies may request an appointment with one of Spiceworks’ market experts.
About the 2025 State of IT Report
The 2025 State of IT report is Spiceworks’ annual in-depth look into the critical trends shaping the tech industry, from budget priorities and workforce demands to emerging technology investments. Powered by Aberdeen Strategy & Research, the report has been published annually since 2013, providing trusted insights for IT leaders, tech vendors, and businesses looking to stay competitive in the ever-evolving IT landscape.
About Spiceworks
Spiceworks is a trusted platform connecting millions of IT professionals and technology providers. Offering actionable insights, industry news, and a vibrant professional community, Spiceworks supports IT leaders in making informed decisions that drive technology and business growth. The company’s annual State of IT report is a cornerstone of its commitment to sharing data-backed trends that matter most to IT professionals.
About Aberdeen Strategy & Research
Aberdeen Strategy & Research, the research arm of Spiceworks, brings over two decades of expertise in data-driven insights that empower organizations to optimize their IT strategies and navigate digital transformation. Partnering with Spiceworks on the State of IT report, Aberdeen provides in-depth analysis that helps companies anticipate and meet the complex challenges of today’s tech industry.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241113556300/en/
Jeremy Rueb
SVP, Marketing
jeremy.rueb@swzd.com
Source: Spiceworks
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