{{item.videoDuration}}
{{item.title}}
{{item.videoDuration}}
Cloud as a catalyst for growth and innovation
Cloud has become a cornerstone of digital transformation for Irish businesses. As organisations navigate geopolitical uncertainty, evolving regulations, and rapid advances in AI, the ability to balance agility with governance is critical. Cloud is no longer just an IT decision; it’s a strategic enabler of growth and innovation.
PwC’s Cloud Business Survey explores how Irish organisations are adopting cloud to strengthen compliance, manage costs, and unlock new value. Drawing on insights from Irish businesses across technology, banking, professional services, and healthcare, this report highlights how Ireland performs—particularly in FinOps, which is the process of aligning cloud spending with business priorities to keep costs under control—and where opportunities remain, such as scaling AI responsibly.
The findings reveal a clear message: cloud adoption is near-universal, but success depends on strategic execution.
Cloud transformation gains momentum
Cloud has become a cornerstone of modern business strategy in Ireland, moving far beyond its early role as a technology enabler. Every organisation surveyed is now using cloud in some capacity, and for most, adoption is extensive. Seventy-two percent have integrated cloud across many parts of their business and evolved their operating model, while 13% have scaled cloud throughout their operations. Only a small minority (16%) remain in the early stages, implementing cloud in limited areas.
Irish organisations are optimistic about growth: 84% expect revenue to increase in the year ahead, following 63% who reported gains over the past nine months. Cloud transformation is seen as a strategic imperative to enable this growth and drive innovation.
Cloud is increasingly intertwined with advanced technologies—especially AI. Many organisations are moving data to the cloud not just for scalability, but to enable generative AI and machine learning. Sixty-three percent of Irish businesses are already using cloud-based AI or ML tools, and 60% are adapting their operating models to support these capabilities. This shift highlights that cloud transformation is no longer just about infrastructure; it’s about unlocking AI-driven innovation.
Beyond these foundational steps, organisations are accelerating broader transformation initiatives. Half are migrating applications to the cloud, while 45% are modernising legacy systems and adopting multi-cloud strategies to enhance flexibility and reduce dependency on single providers. Sustainability is also emerging as a priority, with 47% measuring and reducing their cloud carbon footprint.
Compliance and security dominate transformation priorities. Three-quarters of Irish organisations have implemented regulatory compliance measures, ensuring alignment with local and industry-specific requirements. Close behind, 69% have strengthened cybersecurity and risk mitigation protocols, reflecting their growing importance in an unpredictable environment. Modernising data architecture for cloud-native analytics is another universal focus, with all respondents addressing this in at least some areas of their business—often as a critical step toward enabling generative AI. Many organisations are moving data to the cloud specifically to unlock GenAI capabilities, making advanced analytics and AI-readiness inseparable priorities.
Nearly half are developing cloud-native applications or establishing FinOps practices to manage costs effectively.
External challenges
What's stopping your organisation achieving measurable value from your cloud strategy?
Keen early interest in Agentic AI adoption
Irish organisations are showing strong interest in Agentic AI as they look for ways to automate processes, enhance decision-making, and manage compliance requirements. While its most immediate applications are in operational areas such as customer service, IT, and finance, the technology’s potential to transform governance and efficiency is driving attention at the board level. Our survey reveals that 25% of Irish respondents plan to prioritise investment in AI and machine learning over the next year (EMEA: 18%), signalling an encouraging intent to move beyond experimentation. This is consistent with our recent AI Agent Survey showed that 70% of respondents planned to increase their AI-related budget due to interest in agentic AI.
Cloud platforms are central to this evolution. The scalability, security, and orchestration capabilities of cloud environments provide the foundation AI agents need to function effectively. This connection is reflected in purchasing decisions: 84% of Irish organisations consider Agentic AI capabilities a key factor when selecting cloud providers, and 57% rank it among their top three reasons for changing or planning to change their cloud infrastructure. For many, cloud and AI strategies are now inseparable.
Despite this enthusiasm, adoption of agentic AI remains in its early stages. Nearly half of Irish organisations (44%) are still exploring Agentic AI without implementation, while about a third are piloting solutions. Only 22% have moved to active implementation and scaling, compared with 29% across EMEA. Internal barriers are varied rather than dominant—complex integration and difficulty measuring return on investment (ROI) were cited by one in five respondents, while compliance concerns, budget constraints, governance issues, and slow decision-making each affected 13%. External challenges are clearer: 28% point to data privacy and security risks, and 25% cite regulatory constraints as the main obstacles.
Irish businesses clearly recognise the transformative potential of Agentic AI, but its success is inseparable from cloud strategy. Agentic AI relies on scalable, secure cloud environments to access data, integrate workflows, and deliver value. Progress depends on overcoming integration complexity and regulatory uncertainty, and organisations that align AI adoption with robust cloud strategies and governance frameworks will be best positioned to unlock value while managing risk.
“Cloud platforms are key to enablement of agentic AI. Agentic AI is the bridge between promise and performance. As we roll out agentic AI capabilities at scale, the right combination of technology and culture will redefine how organisations work, turning efficiency gains into measurable business outcomes.”
David Lee, Chief Technology Officer, PwC IrelandAgentic AI adoption
Describe your organisation's use of Agentic AI
New regulations and geopolitical shifts are shaping cloud strategy
Irish organisations are operating in an environment where regulatory complexity and geopolitical uncertainty are redefining technology priorities. Like their EMEA peers, they face mounting pressure to comply with sweeping new rules such as the EU AI Act, the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), and Network and Information Systems Directive 2 (NIS2), each designed to strengthen ethical standards and security across digital ecosystems. These regulations demand more than technical compliance—they require strategic alignment between governance, innovation, and risk management.
At the same time, geopolitical tensions and heightened concerns around data sovereignty are influencing cloud decisions. Organisations must weigh where their data resides, how it is protected, and whether their infrastructure can withstand disruption. This is not a theoretical exercise: across EMEA, 82% of businesses are refining their cloud strategies in response to these external forces, and Ireland reflects this trend. 28% of Irish respondents identified data privacy and security as their most significant external challenge, followed by regulation and compliance constraints (25%).
Despite these pressures, Irish organisations are not standing still. Every business surveyed uses cloud technology, and 72% of organisations have redesigned key processes and structures so that cloud is embedded across multiple business functions—not just IT. This means cloud is now integrated into areas like finance, operations, and customer services, rather than being treated as a standalone technology. However, just 13% have scaled cloud throughout their entire organisation (EMEA: 25%).
Compliance and security are also high on the agenda: 53% have implemented regulatory measures, and 72% have strengthened cybersecurity protocols. These actions are paying off. 63% of organisations report revenue growth in the past six to nine months, and 84% expect this momentum to continue.
When it comes to cost governance, Irish organisations are trailing their EMEA peers. Only 19% have broadly adopted FinOps practices to achieve consistent cost optimisation, financial visibility, and governance across multiple cloud providers, compared to 33% across EMEA (including those with advanced, fully integrated FinOps). Rather than addressing cost management gaps, some Irish organisations are even pulling back from cloud adoption—while European peers have tackled these challenges head-on through FinOps.
“The next phase of cloud will be defined not by migration, but by mastery – where AI and technology, finance and governance converge to deliver sustained business advantage with FinOps an integral part.”
Marc Hanlon, Director, PwC IrelandCloud-related initiatives
Strengthened cybersecurity and risk mitigation protocols
Irish organisations focus on FinOps adoption
As cloud adoption accelerates, many businesses have been caught off guard by soaring cloud costs. Unlike traditional capital expenditure, consumption-based pricing is far harder to predict and control. This surprise is driving the rise of FinOps. To stay competitive, organisations must evolve their financial operations to match this new reality—gaining visibility, enforcing governance, and aligning cloud spend with business value. Effective FinOps practices deliver transparency and control, enabling leaders to optimise costs, strengthen compliance, and make faster, data-driven decisions even in volatile conditions.
Our survey shows that 94% of Irish organisations either apply, or plan to apply, FinOps to their primary cloud provider (EMEA: 92%). While no Irish organisations have achieved full integration, 19% have achieved broad integration with 59% in the active planning phase.
Adopting FinOps will better position Irish organisations to manage cloud costs effectively while supporting innovation. As AI and multi-cloud strategies expand, embedding advanced FinOps will be essential for sustaining financial control and driving business value.
FinOps AI adoption
Describe your organisation's FinOps practices.
Key actions to take today
Irish businesses have made significant progress in cloud adoption, but the next phase requires sharper execution. The survey findings point to four priorities that will help organisations turn ambition into measurable outcomes.
Cloud transformation is no longer about adoption; it’s about optimisation. Organisations that act decisively on cost governance, AI integration, multi-cloud strategy, and outcome-driven planning will be best positioned to thrive in a complex digital landscape.
We’re here to help you
Whether you’re modernising your cloud infrastructure, adopting AI responsibly, strengthening security and compliance, or transforming operations to unlock new value, our cloud and technology specialists can guide you every step of the way. From initial strategy and design through implementation and continuous improvement, we help organisations turn ambition into measurable outcomes.
Our expertise spans cloud optimisation, FinOps integration, AI enablement, and regulatory compliance—ensuring your business remains resilient, agile, and ready for the future. Get in touch today to find out how we can help your organisation move forward with confidence.
About the survey
This report draws on findings from PwC’s Cloud Business Survey, which captured insights from 1,400 business and technology leaders across the region, including 32 organisations in Ireland.
Irish respondents represent a diverse mix of sectors—technology, banking and capital markets, professional services, healthcare, and others—with revenues ranging from $100 million to over $10 billion.
The survey targeted senior decision-makers, including C-suite executives, IT directors and vice presidents, and leaders in finance, risk, and compliance. Our goal was to understand how organisations are evolving cloud strategies to address resilience, sovereignty, AI adoption, and cost governance in a rapidly changing environment.
Technology Services
Innovative technology solutions to transform your business.
{{filterContent.facetedTitle}}
{{contentList.loadingText}}
{{contentList.loadingText}}
Contact us
Follow PwC Ireland
Menu