The cloud infrastructure is undergoing some powerful transformations. Today’s mid-market organisations are making strategic choices about where and how they host critical workloads. A decade ago, public cloud was seen as the goal, but it is now steering into an era of hybrid infrastructure strategies.
We are noticing that mid-market Infrastructure is evolving from just another IT decision to a more strategic outlook on growth and long-term success.
In this blog, we unpack the key trends shaping infrastructure priorities in the mid-market. Most importantly, we explore what these shifts mean for businesses looking to stay ahead.
Overview of current cloud infrastructure trends in mid-market businesses
Mid-Market industries are looking to reshape their digital foundations. Several cloud infrastructure trends are influencing how businesses view cloud resources for strategic growth. Employees now use multiple devices and digital systems to get work done. This means that data is widespread across systems and devices.
Key trends emerging from the mid-market report include that 59% of the companies are looking to invest in AI to enhance cybersecurity. Security must be embedded into every layer of infrastructure design, and companies should adopt a zero-trust architecture to ensure secure access.
Software has changed the dependencies on physical hardware for networks and routing. This, in turn, has created complexities for the security teams to manage these distributed systems. Our mid-market report also put a spotlight on the fact that 41% of the businesses face occasional security and performance issues with their network.
These evolving infrastructure trends are redefining how mid-market businesses compete, grow, and deliver value. Let’s explore what this means for mid-market businesses moving forward.
Trend 1: The shift away from public cloud strategies
It goes without doubt that public cloud storage has transformed the way businesses operate in the last decade. Data from our mid-market report shows that 43% of the companies are looking to move a significant portion of their work from public cloud.
Many businesses which migrated to public cloud a decade ago understand the wide array of benefits it offers, including the more scalable on-demand performance than any other hosted option. However, they are slowly realising that it might not work for all applications. These signals point to the fact that there is a shift to a more targeted and pragmatic cloud adoption, where organisations optimise location and workload in environments that work best for their specific needs.
It goes without doubt that public cloud is still vital, but it’s now being deployed with a focus on supporting innovation workloads for more control and stability.
Trend 2: The adoption of hybrid cloud infrastructure
Mid-Market businesses are embracing hybrid cloud for the scalability of cloud with the performance and control of private infrastructure. Hybrid cloud lets businesses run stable, legacy workloads on private infrastructure while also leveraging public cloud for dynamic, scalable workloads like AI, analytics, and customer-facing applications.
One of the major reasons mid-market organisations are moving out of hybrid cloud is for performance considerations (31%) and data sovereignty (30%). By not putting all workloads in one environment, businesses can effectively manage security, compliance, and operational risks.
Hybrid cloud gives mid-market businesses the freedom to modernise and move workloads without being dependent on the cloud vendor’s timelines.
Choosing the right hybrid cloud expert is crucial. See how Node4 can help.
Trend 3: Regional infrastructure priorities are on the rise
Another area of focus for Infrastructure priorities includes looking into where the infrastructure lives and how it aligns with regulatory, environmental, and business goals. Geopolitical factors such as DORA regulations, the US Cloud Act, and concerns over policies from the White House are causing significant worries for the UK mid-market.
Companies are increasingly worried about data privacy at a global level and about the extent to which foreign organisations may be able to access their data. This has sparked interest in UK-based data centres run by UK-based companies. An interesting study from the mid-market report shows that sustainability and net-zero requirements are the top external factors influencing IT strategies. Energy sourcing, green certifications, and carbon footprint are increasingly becoming the leading factors when selecting data centres.
We have sustainability at the heart of everything we do. We’re committed to achieving our Net Zero and helping our clients reach their net zero by 2050. We monitor our emissions and power usage closely to ensure that we deliver any savings directly to our customers.
Power your growth with Node4’s sustainable, secure, and fully certified UK data centres
What does this mean for mid-market businesses
For mid-market businesses, these infrastructure trends are not just technical shifts. These trends show how technology supports growth, resilience, and competitive advantage. Hybrid infrastructure with significant reliance on public cloud will be the future for most mid-market organisations.
Rather than choosing between public and private cloud, businesses are now embracing both. They are opting for public cloud for scalability and innovation, while maintaining control, security, and performance for critical workloads through private and regional infrastructure.
This strategic shift allows mid-market businesses to minimise costs, meet evolving compliance requirements, and flexibly adapt their infrastructure as market needs change.
Key Questions CXOs Should Ask About Their Infrastructure Strategy
As mentioned earlier, infrastructure decisions can’t solely rest with the technical teams. They must be grounded firmly in business ambitions and expansion strategies.
For mid-market companies, having this on the right track means asking those tough, strategic questions today. Here are five critical questions every CXO should be asking:
- Is our infrastructure optimised for current and future growth?
Infrastructure decisions are not only meant for today’s issues. They need to take into account growth, innovation, and evolving customer needs. So, does your current footprint allow you to expand cost-effectively without costly redesigns?
2. Are we maximising performance, cost, and risk in all channels?
Public cloud, private cloud, and on-premises each have advantages. But are workloads placed where they deliver the best combination of speed, security, resilience, and value?
3. How resilient and flexible is our infrastructure to alteration?
Can your systems adapt speedily if regulatory mandates change, customer expectations alter, or disruptions in the marketplace occur?
4. Are we meeting regulatory, data sovereignty, and sustainability requirements?
As data sovereignty laws and ESG objectives strengthen, is your infrastructure ready to comply with local hosting needs and demonstrate environmental stewardship?
5. Are we aligned with the right advisors to guide and enable our hybrid strategy?
The complexity of the hybrid, multi-cloud, and regionalised models requires expert help. Are you partnered with the right advisors who not just offer technology, but also act as strategic advisors, helping you navigate what’s next?
Conclusion
Hybrid cloud is no longer just a tactical fix. It’s a foundational enabler of sustainable growth. Mid-market leaders must act now to future-proof their infrastructure, ensuring it is scalable, secure, and aligned to both today’s needs and tomorrow’s ambitions.
We specialise in helping mid-market organisations adopt a hybrid infrastructure strategy built for resilience, growth, and agility. Speak to our hybrid cloud experts today and start building an infrastructure that powers your future.
Unlocking Growth in the Mid-Market: The Node4 Report
The 2025 Node4 Mid-Market Report reveals how business and IT leaders can close the productivity gap and unlock their next growth phase, with insights from 600+ decision-makers across six sectors.
In an era of economic uncertainty, the UK’s mid-market continues to power ahead – but something’s slowing it down. Based on original research with over 600 IT and business leaders, this report exposes the key tensions holding mid-sized organisations back: misalignment between teams, underused technology, and stalled transformation efforts.
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