Research commissioned by Scale Computing, a vendor of hyperconverged solutions, has found that there is a shift in attitudes towards corporate IT in favour of non-license based software and infrastructure systems.
The study, which surveyed 200 UK organisations, highlighted the pressure for traditional IT methods to change due to the rise of small and medium businesses driving the UK’s economic recovery.
The study was conducted by market research specialist Vanson Bourne and looked at senior IT personnel. It found that 48% of respondents think their budget is not enough, with smaller businesses often having to cut costs. 48% of companies had to focus on IT system improvements to support their growth in the UK.
Jeff Ready, CEO, Scale Computing, said: "The major IT vendors have for a long time forced enterprise solutions on small and mid-market firms and made them pay through the nose for software for too long. Today, small and mid-market businesses realise there’s an alternative, and they no longer have to pay for expensive infrastructure systems."
With the UK recession, many small and medium businesses have been taking more of an interest in open source and license-free software and infrastructure. According to the research, 31% of respondents’ applications are non-license based, compared to around 16% in 2005 before the economic crisis.
57% of respondents believe that they chose specific IT solutions that best suited the current and future business and technical requirements.
Ready continued: "IT heads in small and medium size companies want to get the job done quickly and efficiently, without paying for big brand names. They always push for the most appropriate solution, and at the best overall value. That usually means alternative IT suppliers and an increasing amount of licence-free software."
