Mastering the cloud frontier

In today's fast-evolving financial landscape, cloud technology is not just a tool, it's a catalyst for transformation. Many financial institutions have adopted Cloud at scale so far, but many still struggle to turn investment into value. At PwC, we believe in harnessing the power of the cloud to propel financial services into a new era of innovation and efficiency.

Drawing from our 2025 EMEA Cloud Business Survey, this thought leadership piece delves into why many financial institutions struggle to realise cloud value, and what steps leaders need to take to bridge the execution gap.

The takeaways

• Why capturing cloud’s value remains challenging: The majority of financial institutions have implemented cloud on a large scale, but many still struggle to translate their cloud and AI investments into tangible business outcomes because of complex legacy systems, siloed data, cost pressures, and regulatory constraints.
• What leaders need to do now: Closing the execution gap will require reimagining cloud not simply as an IT infrastructure but as a platform for value creation, skillfully managing multi‑cloud complexity, embedding resilience into systems at the design stage, and focusing AI initiatives on areas where they deliver tangible impact.
• How to remain ahead: Financial institutions that act swiftly on these five imperatives can create robust, AI‑ready cloud environments that drive innovation at scale, maintain effective risk controls, and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage.

Designed for financial services executives, this strategic guide presents five essential actions to help organisations advance beyond infrastructure updates and transform cloud and AI into a genuine value platform.

Why Cloud Matters

The cloud offers unparalleled opportunities for financial institutions to modernise operations, enhance customer experiences, and drive growth. But what's standing in the way of meaningful change? It's time to rethink how you work and embrace the cloud's potential.