IDG publishes new cloud computing survey
IDG publishes new cloud computing survey
US technology media and research firm IDG Enterprise has published its new piece of research, entitled the Cloud Computing: Key Trends and Future Effects Report, which details how companies across the globe are balancing the cloud with their day-to-day business needs.
The firm conducted interviews with 1,358 respondents from across numerous technology websites and forums including Computerworld and ITworld, to glean data for the report.
High tech industries were the main ones represented within the report, making up 18 per cent of respondents, swiftly followed by financial services, government and manufacturing, each of which accounted for 10 per cent of survey respondents. Representatives from the education sector – 9 per cent – and telecommunications and utilities – 6 per cent – made up the other industries represented.
The report found that almost half - 49 per cent - of executive-level management representatives believed that cloud computing was “transformational" to their business strategies.
Forty per cent reported that they were currently asking their IT staff to investigate the potential of cloud computing for their businesses, whilst five per cent did not see cloud computing as being a viable option for their business. Six per cent said that they were not sure whether the cloud was suitable for them and their business needs.
The representatives reported that the key reasons for investment in cloud computing technology were enabling business continuity – 43 per cent – and greater flexibility to react to changing market conditions – 40 per cent. Thirty-nine per cent said that speed of deployment was their key driver, followed by improving customer support or services – 38 per cent.
Financial services and high tech companies were said to have the biggest cloud computing budgets. Enterprises were predicted to be planning to invest an average of $1.5 million in cloud-based services over the course of 2013-14, according to the survey.
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.
