Economic uncertainty is putting IT budgets under a magnifying glass, and IT professionals are feeling the strain. According to new data from SolarWinds, a mere 23% of IT pros believe their current IT budget is adequate for the needs of their organisation—a situation worsened by the fact that a further 27% expect a budget cut this year.
The survey of 272 global IT professionals reveals that IT teams are struggling to justify their expenses to upper management. Nearly half (45%) of respondents report that justifying spending is a ‘constant challenge.’ More than a quarter (28%) have had budget requests denied in the past year.
Looking ahead, more than two-fifths (43%) say that budget constraints will be the biggest challenge they face for the rest of 2025, especially as IT teams struggle to balance immediate operational needs with the investment required for future growth. This is especially true in crucial areas like cybersecurity, where a third (30%) of respondents highlight a real need for investment.
When it comes to planning ahead, global volatility and subsequent budgets are causing issues for IT teams. Two-fifths (40%) of respondents agree that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to accurately plan IT spending. A fifth of respondents admit that budget cuts have already impacted projects they are working on. Adding to the issue, a further 42% say that global supply chain disruptions have affected hardware procurement and costs.
Commenting on the findings, Laurent Delattre, VP, Europe, Middle East, and Africa Sales at SolarWinds, said:
“There’s no doubt that concerns around IT budgets are growing louder. While there has always been a flock of frustrated IT pros on Reddit, the data now points to a wider business issue—and an urgent need for immediate collaboration between IT and senior leadership.
“With financial pressures set to continue, organisations can’t simply slash IT budgets and expect no hiccups. Nor can they just fork out on an array of flashy new point tools in the hope of revolutionising efficiency.
“To overcome this issue, what’s required is a strategic move to streamline and future-proof infrastructure. That means addressing tool sprawl and operational silos—which lead to higher costs and lower productivity—coupled with a move to an observability approach. Only with deep insights into the inner workings of IT infrastructure can businesses stretch their budgets, maintain operational stability, and make data-driven decisions that correspond with their long-term goals.”
