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Based on the research, here are the main reasons UK SMEs who rely on cloud infrastructure for their core business have recently sought specialist management and support, along with the business situations they are trying to resolve:
1. Increasing complexity of cloud environments
• Managing multiple cloud providers and hybrid setups
• Difficulty keeping up with rapid changes in cloud technologies
• Challenges integrating legacy systems with cloud infrastructure
• Need for expertise in containerization, microservices, and serverless architectures
2. Security and compliance concerns
• Growing cybersecurity threats targeting SMEs
• Stricter data protection regulations like GDPR
• Industry-specific compliance requirements (e.g. finance, healthcare)
• Need for robust disaster recovery and business continuity plans
3. Cost optimization
• Unexpected or escalating cloud costs
• Difficulty in forecasting and budgeting cloud expenses
• Inefficient resource allocation and utilization
• Need for FinOps practices to manage cloud spending
4. Performance and reliability issues
• Intermittent service disruptions affecting customer experience
• Slow application response times impacting productivity
• Difficulty in identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks
• Need for 24/7 monitoring and rapid incident response
5. Scalability challenges
• Inability to handle sudden spikes in demand
• Difficulties in provisioning resources for growth
• Lack of automation in scaling infrastructure
• Need for expert capacity planning and load balancing
6. Lack of in-house expertise
• Shortage of skilled cloud professionals in the job market
• High costs of hiring and retaining cloud experts
• Difficulty keeping staff skills updated with latest cloud technologies
• Need for specialized knowledge in areas like AI/ML, IoT, and edge computing
7. Focus on core business
• IT management distracting from primary business objectives
• Need to reallocate internal resources to product development and innovation
• Desire to offload routine maintenance and support tasks
• Requirement for strategic IT guidance aligned with business goals
8. Digital transformation initiatives
• Accelerated cloud adoption due to pandemic-driven remote work
• Need for cloud-native application development and modernization
• Challenges in migrating on-premises workloads to the cloud
• Desire to leverage advanced cloud services for competitive advantage
9. Vendor management complexities
• Difficulties navigating cloud provider ecosystems and partner networks
• Challenges in negotiating and optimizing cloud contracts
• Need for unbiased advice on selecting appropriate cloud services
• Desire for a single point of contact for multi-cloud environments
10. Regulatory and data sovereignty requirements
• Need to ensure data residency in specific geographic locations
• Complexities in managing cross-border data transfers
• Requirements for data encryption and access controls
• Desire for help interpreting and implementing cloud-related regulations
Citations:
[1] https://newsinthechannel.co.uk/empowering-smes-how-to-navigate-multi-cloud-challenges-with-actionable-solutions/
[2] https://excellence-it.co.uk/insights/cloud-computing-small-business/
[3] https://www.coretelligent.com/blog/5-reasons-to-outsource-cloud-management/
[4] https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/business-guidance/guidance-articles/business-essentials/what-is-cloud-computing-and-how-can-it-help-your-business
[5] https://www.aboutamazon.co.uk/news/aws/smb-cloud-impact-research
[6] https://www.salford.ac.uk/business/greater-manchester-cyber-foundry/can-cloud-and-edge-computing-add-value-to-small-medium-enterprises-smes
[7] https://www.pcsupportgroup.com/blog/reasons-move-small-business-it-cloud
[8] https://goonline.io/blog/9-reasons-to-outsource-cloud-management-in-2022/
[9] https://www.ratcliff.it/news/smes-five-reasons-to-outsource-your-it
[10] https://www.networklondon.co.uk/solutions/sme-it-support-services
[11] https://blog.entrustit.co.uk/the-top-10-benefits-of-outsourcing-it-for-smes