Public or private cloud only

Around 80 percent of IT managers and CIOs expect the use of cloud computing to play a key role in the operation of their IT infrastructures and the use of applications in the future.

This is the conclusion reached by Crisp Research in its new study "Hybrid & Multi- Cloud Services in German SMEs". More than three quarters of the respondents state that, in the medium to long term, only a mix of different cloud technologies will be able to meet the diverse requirements of new digital business models.

However, many are still unclear about the exact nature of the various technologies. According to the new findings, the pace of IT modernization is currently picking up significantly. One in two companies will invest in building a new IT foundation in the next three years - half of the IT budget is already moving into cloud architectures.

"SMEs across the board have recognized that the quality of their own IT landscape, as the foundation of digital transformation, plays a crucial role in its success"

said Steve Janata, COO of Crisp Research and head of the study.

"At the same time, the times are over when IT was simply supposed to exist as invisibly and silently as possible in companies. The vast majority of companies are currently switching from 'wait and see' to 'implement', breaking up old IT structures and replacing them with new ones."

Medium-sized companies rely on managed service providers

Whether retail, manufacturing, healthcare, or banking and insurance: According to the study, digital transformation and technology renewal are not on the agenda of very few decision-makers across all industries.

In the meantime, numerous companies have a concrete goal in mind for their digital business models - linked with budgets and milestones.

"Companies are going to market with new networked products and services at ever tighter rates. Your IT must not only follow this path, but prepare for it."

says Marc Sundermann, Head of Business Development Multi Cloud at QSC.

Companies map the necessary agility and flexibility concepts using a technology mix.

"The resulting complexity cannot be handled by mid-sized companies on their own."

According to the study, only very few decision-makers plan to organize the orchestration of the various IT worlds with their own on-board resources. Three quarters expect to transfer a large proportion of the tasks involved, both in planning and in transformation and subsequent operation, to a managed service provider.