IT Budget Forecast for 2017 Mirrors 2016 Estimates

IT budgets for 2017 are apt to be similar to those of 2016, according to the findings of a survey conducted by Spiceworks, a provider of IT management software. Spending is expected to be relatively flat, with the majority of organizations opting to keep the size of their IT staffs about the same as in 2016, according to the study, which is based on a poll of 900 IT professionals. In addition, the study suggests there won't be much change in how IT dollars are allocated, even though security and networking projects are deemed to be the most strategic initiatives that IT organizations plan to launch in 2017. About the only place there will be a shift in spending is more funding for cloud computing projects. Most of that funding, however, appears to be reallocated from hardware, software and managed services budgets. As usual, end-of-life support issues will be the biggest driver of IT products and services. Solution providers across the channel should pay particular attention to how little new product features or discounts on products and services influence actual IT budget allocations. Channel Insider examines key findings from the study.