BLUE BELL, PA — A new global report from Unisys (NYSE: UIS) highlights a widening gap between technological ambition and IT preparedness, revealing that while organizations are rapidly investing in emerging technologies like generative AI (genAI), agentic AI, and quantum computing, many remain unprepared to support these innovations.
Titled “From Complexity to Clarity: Modernizing Cloud and IT for What Comes Next,” the report surveyed 1,000 C-suite and IT executives across eight international markets. Findings indicate growing concerns over stalled innovation, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and inefficient IT infrastructure that threaten to undermine billions of dollars in technology investments.
Emerging Tech Investments Surge — But Readiness Lags
The survey found that 78% of organizations plan to increase spending on generative AI, while 73% of business executives view agentic AI as essential to staying competitive. Yet only 36% say their systems are prepared to handle large-scale AI workloads.
“The next wave of technological disruption is already underway, yet many organizations are still operating on outdated foundations and processes,” said Manju Naglapur, senior vice president and general manager of Cloud, Applications & Infrastructure solutions at Unisys.
Even among Innovation Leaders — a top-performing group identified in the report — the pressure to modernize is evident. These companies are investing heavily, with 82% allocating over 6% of their IT budgets to genAI-driven data management to maintain a competitive edge.
Infrastructure Bottlenecks Threaten Innovation
Despite aggressive funding, outdated IT infrastructure remains a significant obstacle. Since Unisys’ previous survey in 2023, challenges such as talent shortages, fragmented systems, and misalignment between business and IT have persisted.
- Only 36% of organizations feel ready to manage large-scale genAI workloads.
- Readiness drops further for quantum computing (32%) and edge computing (34%).
- Even mature technologies like augmented and virtual reality are supported by just 35% of IT environments.
The findings underscore the need for strategic modernization to fully realize the value of emerging technologies and ensure long-term competitiveness.
Cybersecurity Risks Intensify
The report also warns of rising cybersecurity vulnerabilities tied to cloud and AI adoption. In the past year alone, 17% of organizations experienced a data breach, with downtime costs reaching up to $500,000 per hour.
Despite these risks, 85% of respondents describe their cybersecurity approach as reactive rather than proactive. While 62% of executives report adopting or planning to adopt Zero Trust frameworks, only 43% have implemented AI-powered cybersecurity solutions, leaving significant gaps in defense.
Unisys notes that preparedness for post-quantum cryptography is especially low, with just 14% of organizations ready to secure their systems against next-generation cyber threats.
Looking Ahead
As investment in advanced technologies accelerates, Unisys stresses that success will depend on aligning IT and business priorities, modernizing infrastructure, and shifting cybersecurity strategies from reactive to proactive. Without these changes, organizations risk stalling innovation, wasting resources, and leaving critical systems exposed.
This report serves as both a warning and a roadmap, signaling that the race to harness emerging technologies is well underway — but without urgent action, many companies could be left behind.
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