Introduction
IT decision makers today face an abundance of choices for how to deliver and manage their apps to create great digital experiences, capture fresh revenue streams, and unlock new opportunities or business models. The options range from various app architectures to a profusion of deployment alternatives, APIs, security technologies, tools, and uses for telemetry, including artificial intelligence (AI).
In fact, exploding use of AI—as revealed by the results of our tenth annual State of Application Strategy survey—is powering this evolution. Increasingly mature AI and machine learning (ML) deployments will require even more new approaches and technologies for application and API security, delivery, connectivity, and management.
The pace of change may feel daunting, and many IT leaders long for greater simplicity. But while the diversity of choices creates complexity and management headaches, it also brings significant benefits, agility high among them. This tension between complexity and flexibility is driving today’s hottest trends, from microservices and multicloud networking to interest in generative AI.
Fortunately, solutions for the toughest challenges are emerging. A decade of survey results provides a solid foundation for drawing conclusions and plotting wise paths forward. This 2024 State of Application Strategy Report captures the top areas of focus, biggest concerns, and best hopes of organizations around the world that are successfully leveraging digital services to thrive in our app-centric economy today—and lead innovation tomorrow. IT decision makers at all levels can use these insights to better position their teams for a bright future that involves less stress and more satisfaction for customers and the business.
