Keeping a finger on the pulse of what could be in store for the industry in 2024 is crucial, which is why NinjaOne – a leading IT management solutions provider– surveyed over 600 IT decision makers for its new report, ‘Leading IT Trends for 2024: Embracing Automation, Security, and Consolidation’. The company has uncovered quantitative and qualitative insights into enterprise IT departments’ challenges and priorities for the rest of the year. These will prove invaluable for organisations seeking to recalibrate their strategies and technology investments.

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Key challenges for 2024

Somewhat related to the AI boom of 2023, the number one challenge IT professionals face, cited by 46 per cent of respondents, is improving automation capabilities. The goal is to boost staff efficiency, and, with studies indicating that 70 per cent of organisations will implement structured infrastructure automation by 2025, it is no wonder that businesses are keen to address the issue.

The second biggest challenge, a priority for 30 percent of those surveyed, is maintaining or improving security posture. News of data breaches from huge companies, like the leak of 235 million email addresses from X, seemed to come almost weekly in 2023. As of November, over 364 million people had been affected by publicly reported data breaches or leaks. As society becomes more digitally connected through networks of devices, platforms, and services, and data governance requirements get stricter, the criticality of fortifying cybersecurity measures becomes more evident.

Productivity is the third most important area of focus for IT professionals in 2024, with 25 percent of respondents looking to improve here. The NinjaOne survey revealed that limited budgets, outdated infrastructure, and lack of consolidation undermine organisations’ ability to administer and manage infrastructure and operations effectively. These challenges highlight the need for streamlined digital transformation initiatives to boost efficiency and adaptability in organisations.

IT investment priorities for 2024

The NinjaOne report, conducted with independent analyst and consultancy firm Omdia, also queried IT decision-makers on their investment priorities for the next year. Separate research from Deloitte predicted that global IT spending in 2023 would grow by 5.5 percent on the previous year as businesses try to capture competitive advantages through increased productivity, automation and other software-driven transformation initiatives.

However, according to NinjaOne, strengthening security is the top priority for 2024, as reported by 35 percent of respondents. Security breaches can cost a significant amount to rectify due to legal fines, operational downtime, reputational damage, and data recovery costs. According to IBM, the global average cost of a data breach was $4.45 million USD in 2023, a 15 percent increase in the last three years. Therefore, investment in robust cybersecurity measures can quickly pay for itself.

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Over a quarter of respondents prioritise investments that will enhance automation in their organisation. Recent research from McKinsey found that leveraging generative AI to automate work activities has the potential to generate between $2.6 trillion and $4.4 trillion in global corporate profits annually. This relates to the third priority highlighted by NinjaOne: 23 percent of IT decision-makers prioritise investments that will improve employee productivity in 2024. McKinsey predicted that generative AI and other automation technologies could grow labour productivity by between 0.2 and 3.3 percent.

The NinjaOne report found that small businesses are more heavily focused on automation (43 percent) and security (41 percent) than their larger counterparts as investment priorities. The authors comment that, while these fields remain important for businesses of all sizes, it is important to consider other areas of investment like customer experience, employee experience, and cloud migration. These are essential for sustained business growth and competitive resilience to larger industry players.

How NinjaOne offers a head start

Of all the survey respondents, 29 percent were existing NinjaOne customers who shared insights in how adopting its IT management benefited their organisations. The system’s robust automation features reduced the time spent on manual tasks by 95 percent, indicating a substantial increase in operational efficiency. Moreover, notable strides in security were observed, with a remarkable 95 percent improvement in patch compliance and a 96 percent enhancement in vulnerability management. The overwhelming majority of these users, 91 percent, expressed that NinjaOne enabled them to consolidate or retire multiple IT management tools, leading to an 81 percent reduction in licence fees.

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Overall, the current IT landscape indicates a desire to leverage technology for efficiency gains, bolster security measures, and consolidate tools for cost savings and improved management. NinjaOne customers are evidently reaping these benefits. As the IT industry continues to evolve, embracing automation, fortifying cybersecurity, and streamlining IT infrastructure are becoming indispensable strategies for businesses aiming to thrive.

To learn more about what is in store for IT professionals in 2024 and how NinjaOne can support your organisation throughout, download the full report ‘Leading IT Trends for 2024: Embracing Automation, Security, and Consolidation’ today. Don’t miss the opportunity to be at the forefront of IT innovation.