INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Cloud
Rackspace reveals Singapore IT leaders wrestling with cloud transformation talent shortages
Rackspace Technology , a leading end-to-end , multi-cloud technology solutions company , has announced the Multi-cloud Annual Research Report 2022 that finds that Singapore organizations are becoming more comfortable with more sophisticated ‘ Cloud 2.0 ’ technologies , even as they confront difficulties in hiring and retaining IT talent .
Sandeep Bhargava , Managing Director , Asia
Pacific and Japan at Rackspace Technology
Among the 120 local IT leaders in Singapore across industries , though cloud development continues to be a top priority for local organizations , such that 60 % do not envision owning a data center in five years , a resounding 75 % of IT decision-makers said that a scarcity of talent is inhibiting the adoption of new cloud development methods .
The survey also finds local organizations ’ top cloud priorities evolving , from ‘ basics ’ such as agility ( 24 %) and scalability ( 36 %) and toward more sophisticated issues such as security ( 37 %) and compliance ( 33 %). Moreover , an increased appetite for risk among IT professionals can be seen in their enthusiasm for exploring edge technologies ( 41 %) and containers ( 54 %), while over half plan to invest in hyperscale providers .
“ The cloud is no longer a shiny new object – it is a nearly universally accepted technology , and there is almost no organization that is not currently in the process of transforming itself via the cloud ,” said Jeff DeVerter , Chief Technology Evangelist , Rackspace Technology .
“ At the same time , there are a number of barriers standing in the way of that transformation , most notably a dearth of IT talent . More than ever , organizations will need to rely on external expertise to achieve their cloud goals , as they continue to shed legacy infrastructure and ask the cloud to do more .”
IT talent is hard to find – and keep
The survey underscores a growing talent dilemma for local IT leaders , with more than half ( 52 %) of all respondents citing talent shortages as major business challenge , well ahead of concerns such as product shortages ( 36 %) and wage growth ( 28 %).
Companies are employing a variety of tactics to attract new IT talent , including promoting opportunities for training and development ( 43 %), offering hybrid / flexible / work-fromhome schedules ( 37 %), increasing starting salaries ( 31 %). A total of 23 % are being even more aggressive , luring talent with large starting salaries or increases , while 16 % are offering sign-on retention agreements and 15 % are offering signing bonuses .
The cloud is here to stay – and it ’ s growing
“ We have seen an evolution in the cloud discussion , away from some of the table stakes topics such as agility and scalability , and toward more sophisticated uses of cloud , such as containers and edge , that is shaping the future ,” added DeVerter .
The survey was conducted by Coleman Parkes in April 2022 and targeted 1,420 senior IT decision makers across multiple key sectors in the USA , LATAM , EMEA and APAC .
“ Not only are people excited to close their data centers . They are also more apt to take on more risk than they had been in the recent past .”
Sandeep Bhargava , Managing Director , Asia Pacific and Japan at Rackspace Technology , said : “ Through the adoption of cloud technology , organizations have benefited from improved customer experience , and they have recognized the value that cloud offers when it comes to innovation and staying ahead of competition .
“ To continue to effectively leverage the benefits of cloud technology , businesses can address the challenge of hiring and retaining the much-needed IT talent in the region by joining forces with external cloud solutions providers .” p
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