This IDC study is a multidimensional market sizing and forecast document for software support and deployment services. In addition to sizing the market, it discusses the key trends shaping the market and driving its growth. Market sizing and trend information is provided by region and includes support and deployment services for application design and development software, application software, and system infrastructure software.

IDC predicts the slower economic conditions across the globe will continue to affect the software support and deployment services market, although there are pockets of growth in the software market. Specifically, IDC expects that support and deployment services for application design and development software will show the strongest growth of all segments in the forecast, largely due to data management and analytics initiatives around cloud and "big data."

"CIOs and IT managers will continue to require high-level support services for technology supporting mission-critical business processes to maximize performance and availability," said Elaina Stergiades, research manager, Software and Hardware Support Services. "As a result, IDC expects software support providers to focus on advanced automated and preventive support capabilities coupled with improved self-diagnosis and resolution to deliver support services at the highest level."