Pictured above: Mark Broadbent
It may be the most talked about IT trend in years but Stafford
business owners and managers are still baffled about what cloud
computing is and what it can deliver.
That's the finding of a new survey from The PC Support Group
(Stafford), which reveals that only 42 per cent of directors and
senior managers can claim a grasp of what cloud computing is, while
just 16 per cent are planning to use the technology in 2011.
Often misleadingly described as a new delivery model for IT,
cloud computing is in fact Internet-based computing, whereby
software and storage are provided to computers and other devices
on-demand. A common consumer-based cloud system is Facebook where
the users have no thoughts or concerns over who is maintaining the
interface and hardware it runs on, or where the data is stored.
Industry commentators predicted 2010 would be the year cloud
computing came of age, but to date the take up has not matched the
hype in the business community.
Nearly half (49 per cent) of the 75 respondents saw ease of
working together across multiple locations as the principle benefit
of this approach, while 30 per cent cited reduced capital
costs.
The biggest barrier to entry (30 per cent) is security concerns,
while doubts about the quality of service if something went wrong
is highlighted by a quarter of respondents.
"Most businesses have IT at the heart of operations, so it's
hardly surprising that there's a lot of talk about the potential of
cloud computing, and no less surprising that reality does not
always match the dream, " said Mark Broadbent, regional director of
The PC Support Group (Stafford).
"Too many IT companies are blindly pushing cloud computing as
suitable for everyone, whilst some IT professionals are simply
worried it will do them out of a job. As with all advances and
changes in technology, it is usually a combination of products and
services that work best. The invention of wireless networking
hasn't removed the need for wired networks - it depends on the
circumstances and what the business needs as to which you use, when
and where."
"We're not expecting to see a tectonic shift in the uptake of
cloud computing services next year," added Mark, "but there will be
more headlines and with such a strong focus on reducing cost and
improving efficiency more businesses will need to review their IT
requirements."