This IDC study examines the changing spending by small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) on IT services. Worldwide IT services spending is forecast through 2016 by company size, with additional detail provided for U.S. SMBs. Year-to-year spending growth is presented, and the share of total IT spending represented by IT services is described, with information on large business spending patterns also provided for comparison.

"The growing importance of IT services to SMBs in the United States and worldwide is actually understated by the annual increases in services spending," said Raymond Boggs, vice president of Small and Medium Business Markets research at IDC. "Small businesses are adding a variety of more affordable services, but the real spending gains are among midsize firms, both U.S. and worldwide." Boggs noted that while less than a quarter of small business IT spending is for services, the share is closer to 40% among midsize firms.