EMEA IT Teams Struggle with Operational Disruptions Despite High Confidence in Resilience: SolarWinds Report

A new report by SolarWinds has revealed a growing gap between perceived and actual operational resilience among IT teams across the EMEA region. While nearly 90% of IT leaders describe their organisations as resilient, only a third say they feel “very resilient,” highlighting ongoing challenges in managing disruptions and maintaining business continuity.

The findings, published in the 2025 SolarWinds IT Trends Report, titled “Fragile to Agile: The State of Operational Resilience”, are based on a survey of over 200 IT professionals in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

According to the study, 45% of IT leaders in the region spend at least a quarter of their work week addressing critical issues and service disruptions. This heavy operational burden suggests that while confidence is high, day-to-day IT functions remain strained by unresolved inefficiencies.

One of the report’s key insights is that the primary barriers to resilience are rooted not in outdated technology, but in complex and inefficient processes. More than a third of respondents (35%) cited workflow issues as their biggest challenge. Furthermore, 50% blamed inadequate processes for hampering recovery during disruptions, while 38% pointed to understaffing as a critical concern.

“To remain competitive in such a fast-moving market, IT teams need the right talent, streamlined workflows, and modern tools,” said Abdul Rehman Tariq Butt, Regional Director – Middle East at SolarWinds. “This is how resilience can be embedded into daily operations, shifting the focus from recovery to innovation.”

Despite the hurdles, organisations are stepping up investments to address the gaps. About 25% of IT leaders said they are dedicating between 21% and 30% of their IT budgets to initiatives aimed at preventing disruption and improving system reliability.

Cullen Childress, Chief Product Officer at SolarWinds, added: “True resilience is more than just adopting new technology. It requires a holistic approach that combines the right tools, streamlined workflows, and a skilled workforce to remain agile and responsive in the face of disruption.”

The report’s findings serve as a wake-up call for organisations over-relying on optimistic assessments of resilience. It suggests that while IT teams are striving to keep up with escalating demands, fundamental issues—especially related to processes and staffing—must be addressed to ensure long-term operational agility and stability.