2023 Cloud Complexity Report

Insights from NetApp’s survey underscore cloud technology is more challenging than initially thought. To meet executive expectations for delivering benefits from the cloud, IT continues to look for solutions. Targeted cloud applications, especially in the area of AI, will yield early successes. The survey uncovered many challenges and the intention to make the use of cloud a success, bringing clarity to the current state of cloud across a broad view of IT, worldwide.

Randy Kerns, Sr. Strategist & Analyst, Evaluator Group

Technology decision makers are navigating cloud requirements coming from digital transformation and AI initiatives and the complexity of multicloud environments. They are facing a cloud complexity dilemma between the necessity of using the cloud and the complexity it creates. That dilemma has now reached a tipping point with 98% reporting their business has been impacted by increasing complexity of data across cloud from increased cybersecurity risk to lack of visibility into business operations to staff burnout.

That complexity is only being exacerbated by both technical challenges like data mobility between clouds and organizational challenges like cost management, lack of a clear cloud strategy or leadership buy in.

This results in increasing tension between tech executives and leadership over delivering immediate and short term ROI vs. long term benefit.

Despite these barriers and tensions, key drivers like data sovereignty, sustainability and cost reduction will continue to make cloud essential . Tech executives are searching for new solutions, with AI the tool most broadly cited.

The moment to reduce cloud complexity is now. Organizations that minimize complexity and optimize cloud outcomes put themselves in the best position to lead our next decade of innovation.