Get Cloud Smart: A Strategic Shift for Financial Institutions
Cloud adoption is rising — and with it, the need for secure, efficient multicloud strategies tailored to financial services.
Cloud-smart strategies are the future of finance
Cloud spend is expected to increase by 28% in the coming year.1 Getting the most return for that investment requires a smarter approach. For financial institutions — 94% of which say the cloud is the future of IT operations2 — this means confronting the shift to cloud-smart strategies and taking on the complexities of multicloud to find operational efficiencies.
Shift from cloud first to cloud smart
Financial organizations have found success by switching away from a cloud-first strategy, where migrating to the public cloud without regard to the workload is common, to a cloud-smart approach.
With this strategy, the computing environment is paired to the multicloud environment best suited to each workload. This adaptation is widely accepted now as a competitive advantage, but management and costs remain a challenge for some financial organizations.
of financial services leaders say they must adapt to cloud operations or fall behind competitors2
of organizations overall use a multicloud model1
say managing cloud spend is their top challenge2
Manage data security in the multicloud
Managing data across multiple cloud platforms requires a cohesive strategy to gain operational efficiencies while avoiding security and compliance risks. Client data must be protected, yet accessible, in what is often a complex, multi-platform environment.
of financial services leaders say data security is their top IT priority2
of financial services leaders are highly confident they have the right security measures in place2
of organizations cite understanding application dependencies as a challenge in migrating workloads to the public cloud1
Automate for operational efficiency
In multicloud environments, automated management and security tools help free up IT teams for important initiatives. Automation also plays a vital role in making fraud detection, regulatory reporting and risk management more effective and efficient.
43% of organizations struggle with optimizing costs post-migration1
Cost efficiency/savings is the top metric for assessing progress against cloud goals1
64% of financial services leaders worry about complying with regulations in cloud operations2
Adopt cloud-native technologies
Cloud-native applications further support multicloud efficiencies for financial institutions with real-time data processing, scalable analytics and automated compliance checks. Embracing technologies like containerization and serverless computing not only improves agility and scalability but also aligns with DevOps practices to accelerate financial innovation.
1 in 4 IT security experts are concerned that misconfigured or exploited serverless and container workloads will be a threat to financial services, highlighting the need for expertise in implementation3
Achieve optimized cloud-smart operations
CDW offers tailored solutions to help financial services strategically plan cloud adoption, manage multicloud complexities securely, implement automation for efficiency and adopt cloud-native technologies to meet industry standards.
Strategic cloud planning. Ensure critical financial data and applications are placed in optimal environments for performance and cost control.
Multicloud management services. Improve integration, visibility and control across diverse financial platforms.
Automation implementation. Deploy solutions specifically designed for reducing financial services workloads while maintaining data integrity and security.
Cloud-native enablement. Adopt containerization and serverless computing, enabling scalable and agile financial services.
Sources:
1 Flexera, “State of the Cloud Report 2025,” March 2025
2 Egnyte, “Harnessing Technology: The 2024 Financial Services Market Report,” September 2024
3 CSA, “Cyber Resiliency in the Financial Industry 2024,” December 2024