In its latest SMB technology forecast, Analysys Mason predicted that IT spending by SMBs will grow at a growth rate of 7.5% between 2022 and 2027. In addition, cloud-based categories are expected to grow from USD $600 billion in 2022 to USD $1.0 trillion in 2027. Bob Takacs, Research Director and SMB IT practice leader at Analysys Mason, commented on the forecast, “Our latest forecast reveals the shift in SMBs’ behavior and priorities since the pandemic. We see increased investments in categories driving resiliency and efficiency. This is an important release because we accounted for the impact of three critical drivers, including SMB’s changing behaviors post-pandemic, macroeconomic headwinds, and the global political unrest.” Bob joins me on Tech Talks Daily to discuss how the report suggests that SMB’s spending priorities include IT solutions that support efficiency, resiliency, and business continuity. We also discuss how three categories will account for almost half of all spending; managed services, infrastructure, and cybersecurity. Finally, we talk about how a distributed workforce and hybrid working practices will continue to influence IT spending.