Cloud readiness: The next competitive advantage for enterprises

Unlocking cloud readiness

The cloud is not just infrastructure. It’s the backbone of enterprise agility, innovation, and intelligence. 70% of CEOs say their organizations arrived at their current cloud setup by accident, rather than design. The next wave of competitive advantage will belong to organizations that can optimize their current architectures and treat cloud as a core capability for business agility and AI adoption.

The 2025 Cloud Readiness Report explores how deliberate design transforms the cloud from a cost center into a catalyst for growth. This report provides an in-depth analysis of the Kyndryl Readiness Report’s findings, drawing insights from 3,700 leaders across 21 countries and highlights a pivotal moment as enterprises navigate AI and geopolitical disruption. 

Key takeaways

70%

While 70% of CEOs say they got to their cloud setups by accident, clear strategies exist to rationalize the sprawl. A deliberate cloud strategy aligns infrastructure, data, and governance while driving innovation, enabling AI, and anchoring a secure, compliant IT estate.

61%

61% of business leaders feel more pressure to prove an ROI on their AI investments now as opposed to a year ago, with 68% investing “heavily” in some form of the technology. When IT architecture connects systems and data seamlessly, intelligence can move and innovation can scale. 

#1

Improving security and compliance is the top way organizations can change their cloud implementation. Cloud strategies should be designed for trust and interoperability, allowing organizations to balance compliance, resilience, and performance while advancing innovation.

For more insights, read the full report.

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