SMB IT spending outpaces the economy

Thursday, June 02, 2011

Small- and medium-sized businesses have been making significant investments in their IT capabilities, according to a recent study from IDC.

Researchers predict that IT spending among SMBs will top the $125 billion mark by the end of 2011. About $120 billion in SMB IT spending was recorded in 2010, they add.

Additionally, IDC notes, the share of total corporate IT spending accounted for by SMBs has increased since the recession, indicating that smaller companies are looking to secure their futures by ensuring their IT systems are up to date.

Cloud services are likely to be most popular among mid-sized and upper-mid-sized businesses, the researchers say, while the opposite trend - more local area networks and servers - may be seen among smaller firms.

Notebook PCs are the most common form factor purchased by SMBs, IDC says, outpacing even standard desktops.

Consolidating IT infrastructure and ensuring all departments are supported by the best technology available is a great boon to any business, experts say - a fact that SMBs seem to have acknowledged.