By Efosa Udinmwen

Copyright techradar

Skip to main content

Tech Radar Pro

Tech Radar Gaming

Close main menu

the business technology experts

België (Nederlands)

Deutschland

North America

US (English)

Australasia

New Zealand

View Profile

Search TechRadar

Expert Insights

Website builders

Web hosting

Best web hosting
Best office chairs
Best website builder
Best antivirus
Expert Insights

Don’t miss these

When cloud growth outpaces control, waste follows

The hidden mathematics of AI: why your GPU bills don’t add up

Why enterprises can’t afford to ignore cloud optimization in 2025

From inevitability to impact: Realizing the full value of AI in business

Companies spending too much on SaaS could cost them more than just money

The need for robust AI infrastructure

The hidden economics of AI: balancing innovation with reality

Balancing cost and carbon in the AI era of data infrastructure

The hidden pitfalls of AI in the cloud: here’s what businesses need to know

Is the cloud the wrong place for AI?

Six reasons why today’s AI infrastructure is unsustainable

Is AI the new cloud? Survey reveals companies scrambling to adopt AI – but few really know what impact it will have

Tackling AI sprawl in the modern enterprise

AI workloads are reshaping infrastructure – here’s what data centers need to know

AI is taking over cybersecurity – but businesses still know the risks

Wow, what a surprise: 94% of ITDMs say they struggle with cloud costs, and I bet that AI will make things even worse

Efosa Udinmwen

11 September 2025

AI tools are increasing the demand for Cloud Storage

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Jirsak)

94% of IT leaders report struggling to optimize cloud costs effectively
Limited visibility and unexpected cost fluctuations remain a persistent challenge globally
FinOps helps organizations forecast budgets and mitigate governance risks efficiently

Managing cloud spending has become increasingly complex for many organizations.

A recent global survey commissioned by Crayon and conducted by Sapio Research found that 94% of IT leaders are struggling to optimize cloud costs.
This makes it one of the most persistent challenges in IT cost management.

You may like

When cloud growth outpaces control, waste follows

The hidden mathematics of AI: why your GPU bills don’t add up

Why enterprises can’t afford to ignore cloud optimization in 2025

AI adoption adds new pressures on budgets
Despite the adoption of cloud-native and third-party tools, 44% of organizations still report limited visibility into their cloud expenditure.

Nearly half of the surveyed businesses also cite unexpected cost fluctuations as a major concern.
As AI adoption grows, its impact on cloud costs becomes more pronounced.
These issues are prompting companies to reconsider their financial operations strategies and seek external expertise.

Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
About 60% of IT leaders are already using AI tools to automate IT processes, while 40% anticipate that AI will be the top cost challenge in the next three years.
AI writers increase demand for cloud storage and computational resources, complicating cost predictability and creating a new layer of financial risk.
FinOps is emerging as a critical approach to managing budgets, defining success metrics, and reducing governance risks.

You may like

When cloud growth outpaces control, waste follows

The hidden mathematics of AI: why your GPU bills don’t add up

Why enterprises can’t afford to ignore cloud optimization in 2025

By integrating AI considerations into financial operations, organizations aim to optimize both technology and spending.
Crayon supports this effort by offering tailored FinOps solutions that deliver transparency, efficiency, and measurable business value.
“At Crayon, we see FinOps as the discipline that brings clarity to this challenge, helping IT leaders forecast, govern, and optimize across hybrid and cloud environments,” said Crayon Vice President of Global Sales Ulrik Roland.
“By combining transparency with actionable insights, we empower our customers to unlock the true business value of their technology investments.”
Concerns over regulatory compliance, data privacy, and vendor lock-in are causing some organizations to redirect portions of IT budgets toward hybrid or on-premises strategies, with an average of 37% of spending allocated accordingly.
Security and compliance remain leading drivers in these decisions, reflecting the balance IT leaders must strike between cloud flexibility and cost control.
The findings suggest that while cloud adoption continues, AI workloads and unpredictable expenses could make cost management even more challenging than it already is.
“FinOps is especially critical in today’s environment where cloud economics, AI governance, and security intersect,” said SoftwareOne* Co-CEO Melissa Mulholland.
“FinOps empowers organizations to take control of their IT investments, ensuring they are aligned with business outcomes, financially accountable, and resilient against emerging risks.”
You might also like

These are the best rugged smartphones on the market
And these are the best rugged tablets you can buy right now
Lessons from F1’s Cost Cap applied to cybersecurity

Efosa Udinmwen

Freelance Journalist

Efosa has been writing about technology for over 7 years, initially driven by curiosity but now fueled by a strong passion for the field. He holds both a Master’s and a PhD in sciences, which provided him with a solid foundation in analytical thinking. Efosa developed a keen interest in technology policy, specifically exploring the intersection of privacy, security, and politics. His research delves into how technological advancements influence regulatory frameworks and societal norms, particularly concerning data protection and cybersecurity. Upon joining TechRadar Pro, in addition to privacy and technology policy, he is also focused on B2B security products. Efosa can be contacted at this email: udinmwenefosa@gmail.com

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

When cloud growth outpaces control, waste follows

The hidden mathematics of AI: why your GPU bills don’t add up

Why enterprises can’t afford to ignore cloud optimization in 2025

From inevitability to impact: Realizing the full value of AI in business

Companies spending too much on SaaS could cost them more than just money

The need for robust AI infrastructure

Latest in Pro

Apple’s iPhone Air kills the SIM card: what this means for eSIM providers, telcos, and consumers

Is AI a threat to our current encryption standards?

Adobe’s suite of new AI tools aimed at helping businesses create the best customer experience are here

This widely used Remote Monitoring tool is being used to deploy AsyncRAT to steal passwords

Gen Z are changing the very nature of how we work, and most businesses aren’t ready for it

AI companies will lose the market if they ignore responsibility in design

Latest in News

IPVanish takes its first step toward a RAM-only VPN network

Tesla scraps its wireless EV charging plans, leaving Porsche to pioneer the technology

Ubisoft CEO says the future of the Far Cry series will be more multiplayer-focused

Hollow Knight: Silksong seemingly references Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 in one subtle easter egg

$699 for a 128GB iPhone 16? I think you can score a better deal – here’s how

Valve has introduced significant UI updates to Steam, and gamers are thanking ‘Lord Gaben’ yet again

LATEST ARTICLES

‘No asterisk generation’ : AMD promises its MI450 AI GPU will be faster than ANYTHING Nvidia has, yes, that includes even Rubin Ultra

Why cosmic Orange? Apple answers the hard questions about its new premium iPhone 17 Pro color

I tried and failed to break Greg Joswiak’s iPhone Air, and I think he’s OK with that

IPVanish takes its first step toward a RAM-only VPN network

The EU has never been closer to agreeing on the scanning of your private chats – but how did we get here?

TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Contact Future’s experts

Terms and conditions

Privacy policy

Cookies policy

Advertise with us

Web notifications

Accessibility Statement

Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street,

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait…