Equinix Survey Pins Cyberattacks as Threat to Business Growth

The No. 1 threat to business growth is a cyberattack, according to Equinix’s 2022 Global Tech Trends report. The No. 1 threat to business growth is a cyberattack, according to Equinix’s 2022 Global Tech Trends report. The survey of 2,900 global IT leaders found that while 72% of organizations have expansion planned for the next twelve months, cybersecurity and data regulation pose significant growth challenges. Security breaches and data leaks pose the second largest threat, cited by 70% of respondents. Organizations know this is more than just a threat — it’s a reality. A recent study from Titaniam found more than 70% of organizations experienced at least one ransomware attack over the last five years. Equinix’s survey also found concerns over shifting regulatory requirements relating to data privacy, a shortage of IT talent, a sudden influx of data resulting from new technology adoption, and downtime related to infrastructure issues. In addition, 59% of organizations are suffering from ongoing supply chain disruption, and 58% specifically identified the global chip shortage as a threat to business growth. Unsurprisingly, the survey showed organizations’ top priority in a volatile post-COVID world is improving cybersecurity, cited by 85% of respondents globally. Other top priorities for organizations’ technology strategies include complying with data regulation, “future-proofing” the business, improving customer experience, and accelerating innovation. “We believe these priorities could help companies plan for global headwinds and perceived threats, such as environmental impact, cyberattacks and new COVID-19 waves,” Equinix President Tara Risser said in a statement. “Business leaders around the world are increasing their digital investment to address these challenges and plan for new and evolving technology adoption, like Web3, digital edge, and 5G,” Risser added. The environmental impacts of IT infrastructure are also top of mind for digital leaders, according to Equinix’s report. Globally, 69% of respondents say that environmental sustainability has become a key driver of their organization. Furthermore, a majority of organizations surveyed (69%) say there is a plan in place to manage the environmental impact of increased data usage at their organization. And for many leaders, responsibly managing carbon emissions is important with 65% of respondents agreeing they will only work with partners that can help meet carbon reduction goals.