Data security tops IT modernisation worries in survey

Rocket Software has published survey findings indicating that data security tops enterprise modernisation concerns, with 69% of IT leaders citing it as their primary source of pressure.

The research points to growing strain on IT organisations as they modernise core systems, expand cloud use and increase investment in artificial intelligence across mixed environments. Respondents linked these shifts to larger data estates and more complex controls.

Security Pressure

Data security ranked above other modernisation concerns in a survey of 276 IT directors and vice presidents at organisations with more than 1,000 employees across the US, UK, France and Germany. Researchscape conducted the survey in October 2025.

The findings also suggest a gap between day-to-day confidence and formal compliance readiness. Fewer than one-third of respondents reported being extremely confident in passing their next regulatory audit.

Confidence levels were also uneven on insider risk. While 78% reported confidence in detecting insider threats, only 24% reported complete confidence.

To secure infrastructure, IT leaders most often rely on AI-driven monitoring tools, access control and data governance. The results frame these measures as central as data moves between older platforms and cloud services.

Rocket Software linked the rising pressure to faster technology change and more distributed data environments, describing security as a key factor in modernisation success.

Hybrid Complexity

Hybrid IT remained a significant friction point, with 51% saying bridging cloud and on-premises environments is difficult.

Data quality was the biggest obstacle to managing workloads across hybrid ecosystems. Respondents also flagged access control (52%), secure data movement (50%) and governance consistency (46%).

Rising storage costs were also a concern, with 45% citing them as a challenge. Together, quality, movement and governance issues highlight the operational work required when data and applications span multiple platforms.

The report places these challenges alongside rising audit expectations and security scrutiny. For large, multi-region organisations, maintaining consistent policies and monitoring becomes more difficult as systems and data spread across environments.

Skills Gaps

The survey also highlighted skills shortages associated with legacy systems. Nearly half of respondents (48%) said their organisations still rely on legacy platforms for critical operations.

Only 35% reported that their teams have the skills needed to support these systems, while 52% reported that it is difficult to find trained personnel.

These figures suggest added risk alongside security and compliance concerns. Teams may need to maintain longstanding platforms while integrating cloud services and building data pipelines for analytics and AI projects.

AI Readiness

AI was described as a strategic priority, but the results indicate infrastructure readiness remains a constraint. Only 25% reported being extremely confident that their infrastructure could support AI workloads today.

When asked where AI could have the greatest impact, respondents cited security and fraud detection (31%), internal process optimisation (29%), and customer experience (22%). These areas often depend on access to broad, reliable datasets and controls that meet regulatory requirements.

Data accessibility for AI also emerged as a forward-looking concern. Two-thirds of respondents (66%) identified it as the top issue shaping future modernisation efforts.

Rocket Software presented the results as a picture of competing priorities for IT leaders, with modernisation programmes running alongside operational needs, governance expectations and pressure to deploy AI safely across hybrid environments.

Michael Curry, President of Rocket Software's Data Modernisation Business Unit, said the push to adopt AI is accelerating as security expectations rise and IT estates become more complex.

"Enterprises are moving quickly to take advantage of AI and automation, while at the same time facing increased security expectations and more complex hybrid environments. This research makes it clear that IT leaders need integrated, secure ways to connect data and applications across core systems and the cloud. Strengthening these foundations is essential to driving innovation and ensuring organisations can rely on their technology with confidence."

Rocket Software said the next 12 months of modernisation will focus on improving data security, supporting AI initiatives and strengthening data availability, while data accessibility for AI remains a core challenge.