Cybersecurity will dominate IT priorities over the next two to three years, a new study suggests, with 77% of professionals identifying it as their top concern. This idea comes from a global survey conducted by Paessler, a provider of IT and IoT monitoring solutions, highlighting the growing challenges organizations face in defending their systems against increasingly sophisticated threats.
The survey, which collected information from 1,547 IT professionals in industries including finance, healthcare and manufacturing, also highlights artificial intelligence (34%) and the adoption of cloud (27%) as the main drivers of the overhaul of the IT landscape.
“IT professionals are experiencing a period of unprecedented change as AI reshapes cybersecurity and cloud requirements, and similarly reshapes IT roles as teams must implement and secure AI-based tools, automate processes and respond to the increasing complexity of AI-enabled environments. “, said Helmut Binder, CEO of Paessler. “These changes highlight the growing need for IT professionals to develop a blend of technical, strategic and cybersecurity skills to keep pace with technological advances. »
The Paessler Perspectives report highlights a persistent challenge for IT teams in managing legacy systems. Despite growing interest in cloud solutions, 76% of IT infrastructure remains on-premises. This reliance on older systems complicates efforts to improve operational efficiency and maintain security, particularly as data volumes increase.
60% of respondents plan to move to cloud environments in the next two years. This shift will require IT teams to manage hybrid systems combining on-premises and cloud infrastructure, requiring new skills in systems integration and optimization. While cloud adoption provides scalability and flexibility, it also introduces additional security risks, adding to the complexity that IT teams must resolve.
Cybersecurity risks remain a costly concern, with the average data breach costing organizations approximately $4.88 million. In response, IT leaders are adopting advanced technologies to strengthen defenses. Automated root cause analysis is explored by 46% of respondents, while 40% prioritize observability solutions to ensure system stability and minimize downtime.
As cyber threats become more sophisticated, integrating security measures across IT ecosystems becomes essential. IT teams are increasingly focused on proactive detection and rapid response to mitigate operational disruptions and protect organizational assets.
Sustainability is not among the priorities of IT leaders, with only 5% of respondents identifying it as one of the top three challenges. Additionally, 44% indicated that sustainability considerations are currently not included in their IT strategies.
Among those incorporating sustainability into their plans, 62% cited profitability as a key motivator, while 37% noted that their organization’s leaders are starting to prioritize environmentally friendly practices. Regulatory pressures, however, could push sustainability higher on IT agendas, particularly in the design of energy-efficient and resource-optimized infrastructure.
Investments in AI increase cybersecurity risks
A recent report from Flexential, a data center solutions provider, highlights the cybersecurity risks associated with the adoption of artificial intelligence. According to the 2024 State of AI Infrastructure Report, 95% of IT leaders believe that growing investments in AI have increased their organization’s vulnerability to cyber threats.
The survey, which included 350 IT executives from companies with revenues exceeding $100 million, including 100 with revenues exceeding $2 billion, highlights significant gaps in security AI deployments. 40% of respondents reported that their cybersecurity teams lacked the expertise to effectively protect AI applications and workloads. Additionally, 54% of respondents cited the complexity of AI systems as a factor increasing the attack surface, while 39% indicated that storing and processing more sensitive data increased risks.
