Cloud computing a 'top investment priority' for 2012

Cloud computing a 'top investment priority' for 2012

Cloud computing appears to be a major investment priority for the next 12 months, according to a recent survey.

Unisys Corporation recently conducted an online poll asking companies where their priorities lie in terms of IT investments for 2012.

The results showed that 50 per cent of respondents see cloud computing as their top IT investment priority, followed by cyber security at 21 per cent, mobile and social computing also at 21 per cent, and big data at eight per cent.

This is the second year in a row that cloud computing has been flagged up as the top IT priority among businesses. However, in comparison to the previous year's survey, interest in cloud computing appears to be on the rise. In the December 2010 and January 2011 poll, just 44 per cent of respondents said that cloud computing was their top IT priority for the year ahead.

Colin Lacey, vice-president of data centre services and solutions at Unisys, commented on the results: "Over the past two years cloud computing has moved into the mainstream of IT investment decisions."

He added that business decision makers now see both private and public cloud computing as "a vital way to obtain IT services that enable them to provide solutions for clients and delivery competitive products to market quickly and cost-efficiently".

However, according to Unisys. there is a need for cloud computing users to integrate their solution within the existing IT resources to ensure that they get the most out of the service. This avoids the possibility of duplicating processes and will help to deliver the greatest savings in operating costs.

Businesses looking to move services into the cloud, should evaluate the performance of their existing network and consider setting up a leased line or MPLS network.