Cyber security remains a key tech priority for businesses

Organisations are prioritising investment in cyber security to strengthen their defences against their perceptions of a growing threat, according to a new survey of its customers to gauge their technological priorities by Softcat. According to a BBC report, 55 percent of UK firms have experienced a cyber-attack in 2019, up 15 percent compared to last year, signifying a growing threat so their fears may be well-founded. Softcat’s survey claims that 83 percent of industries ranking cyber security as their biggest technology priority for the year ahead.

The Government is taking action to support businesses in protecting themselves, their customers and their suppliers online, having just this week launched a call for evidence as part of its review of cyber security incentives and regulations.

The survey also found that on-demand access to secure and optimised data is now a business necessity to meet the needs of an increasingly mobile workforce.  In support of this, the survey findings highlight 56 percent of industries in the UK rank end user computing and mobility as their second biggest technology priority, behind cyber security. These include the agriculture, energy and utilities, finance, manufacturing, professional services and real estate sectors.

Of the eighteen sectors included in this study, only three – construction, public education and public healthcare – did not rank cyber security as their top priority area of tech investment. Instead, they favoured end user computing and mobility.

In third place overall is datacentre and cloud investment, highlighting how hybrid cloud is an integral part of evolving IT strategies, helping organisations gain competitive advantages through convenience, insight and speed.

Organisations are investing the least in print services which the report argues is to be expected given the speed of digital transformation and the environmental drive to reduce waste. However, emerging technology such as Big Data, IoT and AI also score poorly despite this being an area where the UK believes it has the potential to be a global leader. This finding suggests organisations are placing greater value on “utility” services which support day-to-day business operations over gaining first mover advantage with the technologies of the future, the report concludes.