Top IT Priorities for SMBs

TSL Tech Research conducts online surveys to track technology trends that affect the solution and service provider market. As part of our ongoing research, we asked 181 IT professionals at firms with between 1000 and 5000 employees an open-ended question about their top IT priorities. 

We analyzed the results to form a picture of which IT services are most important to SMBs, what their technology plans might be, and what challenges and concerns shape their views on technology. 

The Results 

Instead of asking IT professionals to choose from a list of options, we asked them “What are your top IT priorities?” and let them fill in their own answers.  

The survey question pinpointed 20 IT areas that SMBs find essential. Despite the open-endedness of the question, multiple respondents identified similar priorities, and patterns emerged.  

• 27% Cybersecurity 

• 23% Data Management 

• 19% Other 

• 11% AI Adoption 

• 9% Data Integration 

• 8% Data Governance 

• 8% Talent/Staffing 

• 7% Infrastructure 

• 4% Compliance 

• 4% Budget/Cost 

• 4% Legacy Systems 

• 3% Communication/Collaboration 

• 2% Cloud/Migration 

• 1% System Modernization 

• 1% Governance, Risk, & Compliance (GRC) 

• 1% Project Management 

• 1% Scaling 

• 0.5% Shadow IT 

• 0.5% Training 

Key Takeaways: 

Cybersecurity was identified as a priority by more than a quarter of respondents, coming in as the top IT priority overall. Data management was a close second with almost 25%. AI adoption was the third most popular response. 

Key Insights & Recurring Themes 

TSL Tech Research discovered recurring themes in the survey results as we analyzed them to gain further insights into technology trends and challenges. 

Cybersecurity 

Cybersecurity is the most frequently mentioned priority, reflecting ongoing concerns about cyber threats, data breaches, meeting compliance, and reducing risk.  

Data Management 

Data management -- a category that includes maintaining data quality and accuracy along with processing information – is a close second, showing how important reliable data is for operations and decision making. 

AI Adoption 

AI adoption is emerging as a significant priority. However, many responses highlight challenges with safe integration, governance, and measuring return on investment (ROI). 

Integration

Integration, a category that encompasses systems, platforms, and data, continues to present a major pain point for SMBs, especially because of legacy systems and the trend toward cloud migration. 

Talent/Staffing 

Talent and staffing issues are common for IT teams, especially at SMBs. These issues include recruiting and retaining staff, as well as bridging skills gaps, and are often exacerbated by budget constraints. 

Governance, Risk & Compliance 

GRC has become increasingly important, especially as regulatory requirements become stricter and the process of maintaining data privacy becomes more complex. 

Budget/Cost 

Budget constraints and the pressure to control costs are frequently cited by SMBs as an obstacle to upgrading infrastructure, adopting new technologies needed to modernize, and hiring qualified staff. 

Legacy Systems 

Legacy systems present ongoing challenges to modernization efforts with many organizations struggling to balance old and new technologies. 

Communication/Collaboration 

Communication and collaboration between teams and departments is mentioned as a common barrier to effective IT operations. 

Other 

A notable percentage of responses fall into the “Other” category because they reflected unique or organization-specific challenges that weren’t captured in the main categories. 

Additional Observations 

When we looked at all the responses, additional insights presented themselves. Here are 5 notable observations. 

1. Many organizations try to balance innovations, such as AI and automation, with the operational stability created by security, compliance, and legacy systems.

2. SMBs experience tension between the desire to modernize and practical limitations, including budget, talent, and existing infrastructure.

3. The difficulty of demonstrating ROI for new IT initiatives, especially AI, is a common thread running through several responses.

4. Some organizations face challenges related to cross-team alignment, such as siloed personnel and a lack of unified vision.

5. The pace of technological change and regulatory requirements exceeds the capacity of many IT teams to meet modernization goals and compliance. 

What Top IT Priorities Mean for IT Service Providers and their Clients 

At TSL Tech Research, we focus on conducting online research that helps IT solution and service providers understand their target market. We also use our insights to match companies with technology partners that best meet their needs. 

Our findings on IT priorities show that SMBs need services related to cybersecurity, data management, and AI adoption to attain their goals. IT service firms should promote their ability to support modernization and cybersecurity initiatives within budget and compliance requirements.

Find out more about what TSL Tech Research can do for your company whether you are an IT service firm or a company looking for a tech partner. Visit our website for more information.