Third of SMEs looking to the cloud

Third of SMEs looking to the cloud

Almost one in three small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are looking at using cloud computing in the next 12 months, recent research has revealed.

Conducted by IT industry trade association CompTIA, the study found that cloud computing was the technology with the highest planned adoption rates. In the survey of 400 IT and business professionals in UK SMEs, the cloud came out ahead of mobile solutions and social media.

However, just 18 per cent of SMEs questioned were found to be using cloud computing at the moment but it appears that the high levels of satisfaction (93 per cent of those surveyed) are prompting more firms to look into the technology.

In the months leading up to cloud adoption, it is worth looking at the existing networks and infrastructure of the company's IT systems to ensure they are able to deliver the maximum benefits.

Managed networks are one option to consider in this arena. But businesses that are unsure of the other practicalities of switching to the cloud could benefit from the recently published Cloud Computing for Business book, compiled by the Open Group.

The global standards group aims to help enterprises to get the maximum benefits possible from cloud computing, while easing their transition to the service and improving the overall quality, standards and reputation of the cloud.

Chris Harding, director for interoperability at The Open Group, said: "The book pays special consideration to an organisation’s technical and business requirements, and aims to help readers gain the greatest value possible from their cloud projects.”

He added that it will also highlight the key areas of consideration, which include the purchase of cloud services, understanding the risks involving and building a return on investment from the change.

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