Today, CDW Canada, a leading provider of technology solutions and services for Canadian organizations, released the 2024 CDW Canadian Hybrid Cloud Report which explores the current state of cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) adoption among Canadian organizations. Conducted with additional support and analysis by IDC Canada, the report independently surveyed over 700 Canadian organizations between March 2024 and April 2024.
Organizations are increasingly adopting hybrid, multicloud ecosystems for security and control. However, challenges like complex infrastructure, data management and shortage of skilled workers present opportunities for organizations to realize the full potential of these ecosystems.
The report found that while 59 percent of Canadian organizations plan to leverage multiple public clouds over the next two years, 34 percent report little to no interoperability between these environments, leading to data silos and inconsistencies in governance. Additionally, 35 percent of organizations said scarce IT staff, talent and skills are major operational challenges for adopting hybrid, multicloud environments. Addressing these challenges is vital for organizations looking to achieve true cloud maturity in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Unified management platforms are essential
As organizations navigate the complexities of hybrid, multicloud environments, the adoption of a unified management control plane and cloud management platform has become critical. These tools enable organizations to effectively manage, monitor and control their infrastructure across public and private clouds, reducing costs and enhancing security.
“Organizations should reap the benefits of operating across public and private clouds, but this requires control and visibility,” said KJ Burke, Field CTO, Hybrid Infrastructure at CDW Canada. “A unified cloud management platform is key as it consolidates management tools, enables operational cost reductions and increases cybersecurity posture and operational efficiency.”
Despite the advantages, only 36 percent of Canadian organizations currently use a unified cloud management platform, while the remaining 64 percent rely on a mix of native cloud tools, open-source solutions and custom-built systems. This fragmented approach often leads to increased complexity and operational challenges. Organizations must look to unified management platforms to maintain operational resilience in these complex environments.
The rise of AI in hybrid cloud strategies
The democratization of artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI (GenAI), is reshaping how Canadian organizations compete by driving productivity gains, cost optimization and innovation. Although 55 percent of organizations are investing in AI, significant challenges remain, particularly around privacy, scalability and data governance. Concerningly, only three percent of Canadian organizations report having fully prepared data infrastructure to handle these AI challenges, including integrating privacy, traceability and security to support governance and compliance.
“While AI presents enormous opportunities for Canadian organizations, the reality is that only a small number of them feel prepared to tackle the complexities of AI implementation,” said Michael Traves, DevOps/AI Cloud Principal Architect at CDW Canada. “To bridge this gap, organizations should engage third-party experts who can guide them through the intricacies of AI integration and ensure that their infrastructure can support secure and responsible AI deployments.”
Cybersecurity remains a concern in IoT investments
The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices has expanded the threat landscape as new and vulnerable entry points via these devices continue to increase. It is essential for organizations to strengthen their security measures and resiliency at the edge, considering 81 percent of Canadian organizations have IoT projects in production.
Cybersecurity remains a critical issue, with 46 percent of businesses reporting rising cyberthreats as a major concern in their IoT deployments. Fortunately, 32 percent of organizations said improving edge infrastructure security and resiliency was the most important investment needed to ensure IoT and edge infrastructure. This highlights that some organizations recognize the importance of cybersecurity at the edge to maximize the flexibility and scalability of IoT within their hybrid, multicloud approach.
To learn more about the opportunities and challenges of hybrid, multicloud adoption for Canadian organizations, download the report here.
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About CDW Canada
CDW Canada Corp. is a leading provider of technology services and solutions for business, government, education and healthcare. Established in 2003, CDW Canada is the country’s trusted advisor for cybersecurity, hybrid infrastructure and digital transformation. CDW Canada experts design, orchestrate and manage customized services and solutions, making technology work so people can do great things. Through its services-led approach, CDW Canada simplifies complex technology to empower customers to focus on their business and thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape. CDW Canada is a wholly owned subsidiary of CDW Corporation (Nasdaq: CDW), a Fortune 500 company. For more information, visit www.cdw.ca.
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