Spiceworks 2019 State of IT Report: Network Upgrades Top IT Investment

The 2019 State of IT Report from Spiceworks confirms that upgrading outdated network infrastructure remains the leading IT investment for the coming year. According to the survey of IT executives across North America and Europe, 89 % of respondents expect their budgets to grow over the next 12 months.

In the United States, many leaders cite larger operational budgets that have emerged following recent tax cuts. Yet the trend is consistent worldwide, driven by the long‑term risks of resisting digital transformation and the need to safeguard against evolving cyber threats.

Government agencies on both sides of the Atlantic are leading the charge, pledging to overhaul their distributed network operations in response to high‑profile security incidents such as the WannaCry ransomware attack. In fact, 82 % of government organizations surveyed in North America and Europe are increasing budgets specifically to address these vulnerabilities—an unprecedented figure across all industries.

Regulatory pressures also play a critical role. The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) has prompted both public and private enterprises to adopt stricter data‑protection workflows. This was the top reason for raising IT budgets among 37 % of all respondents, and the figure rises to 45 % in Europe.

Across the board, more than half (56 %) of leaders report that IT projects have become a higher business priority. Software and cloud investments account for 26 % and 21 % of total budget allocations, respectively—consistent with last year’s data. These figures underscore a steady commitment to cloud migration and the adoption of new tools that enhance productivity.

Enterprise IT professionals planning next‑year investments must ensure they employ solutions that safeguard digital transformation initiatives. Monitoring tools that identify potential issues early—especially during large‑scale cloud migrations—are essential. By establishing performance baselines before migration, continuously monitoring throughout the transition, and maintaining vigilance post‑adoption, teams can prevent budget overruns and protect user experience, thereby sustaining momentum toward digital goals.