Cloud computing continues to reshape how organisations manage infrastructure, data, and digital services. As adoption accelerates, data privacy, residency, and compliance have gained prominence alongside ongoing concerns around performance, cost, and security. The increasing complexity of regulatory requirements and the diversity of cloud deployment models underscore the need for organisations to balance innovation with risk management and operational efficiency.
We worked together with UpCloud to research European and US organisations and examine current cloud service providers’ (CSPs) adoption trends, key challenges, and future priorities across both regions.
Together, we produced a report where we:
Analyse the landscape of cloud provider usage, distinguishing between organisations that rely solely on US-based providers, European providers, or a combination of both.
Explore where these organisations choose to store their data physically.
Examine the various cloud deployment models adopted by organisations of different sizes and the key factors they consider when choosing a cloud service provider.
Look at the challenges organisations encounter with their current cloud environments.
Analyse the motivations behind adopting or avoiding European CSPs.
Look to the future, outline the main organisational priorities for cloud services and infrastructure and explore how organisations are integrating AI-related practices into their operations.
This latter part is what we will present in this article, so keep reading. Access and deep dive into the full report here. You can find a short summary of our methodology at the end.
UpCloud and SlashData will also publish a webinar to discuss the findings. You can watch it here.
Exploring organisational priorities around cloud services and infrastructure reveals that AI integration will be the main focus in the next two years. One in three organisations identifies it as one of their main priorities.
The trend is far more pronounced in the US, with 40% calling AI integration a priority, compared to only 28% in Europe, highlighting the US’s stronger investments and more aggressive approach to AI integration. Additionally, those in management positions (such as CEOs, CTOs, or tech leads) are substantially more likely to identify AI integration as a key priority (36%) compared to others (27%), suggesting that leadership sees AI as a strategic lever for transformation, competitive advantage, and operational efficiency.
Integrating AI into cloud infrastructure and processes is a key priority for one-third of cloud decision-makers
Following closely are objectives to improve scalability (32%) and performance (30%). This highlights the need for infrastructure that can flexibly support growth and deliver consistently high performance, enabling organisations to remain agile and resilient in a context of rapid change.
To understand how organisations are supporting AI workloads and integrating AI into cloud infrastructure, we asked cloud decision-makers about the status of several key practices within their organisations.
As it turns out, for each practice listed, around half of the organisations have already implemented these or are currently in the process of implementing them. Training developers on cloud-based AI tools and infrastructure (56%) and the adoption of AI platforms and services from cloud vendors (55%) are the most widely adopted activities, highlighting the need both for upskilling teams and leveraging specialised AI solutions to facilitate adoption. More than half (51%) have also incorporated or are in the process of incorporating AI-specific security and compliance measures, further emphasising the concerns surrounding data protection and regulatory obligations.
One thing is clear: few organisations are opting out.
For all these activities, only a small minority (11–14%) report having no plan to implement them, indicating strong industry momentum. This widespread engagement signals that AI integration is no longer limited to early adopters or specific sectors; it is becoming a mainstream priority as organisations face increasing pressure to innovate, improve efficiency, and remain competitive.
The findings of this report are based on data collected from an online survey designed, hosted, and fielded by SlashData in May 2025. The survey reached 300 professionals in Europe (55%) and the US (45%) who are involved in the selection and purchase of cloud services in organisations with at least five employees.
Alvaro Ruiz Cubero, Market Research Analyst, SlashData
Álvaro is a market research analyst with a background in strategy and operations consulting. He holds a Master’s in Business Management and believes in the power of data-driven decision-making. Álvaro is passionate about helping businesses tackle complex strategic business challenges and make strategic decisions that are backed by thorough research and analysis.