In our previous blog, we identified the top five IT priorities for 2013 and a brief summary of the results. This blog will dig a little deeper into one of the top five priorities; Cloud Computing. This topic has been on the radar of several IT professionals for quite some time now, so why the sudden gain in popularity? Cloud computing adoption has increased steadily since its inception, but it seems to have captured a large portion of 2013 IT budgets.
A majority of IT professionals are primarily interested in cloud storage, but other popular cloud applications include disaster recovery and Platform as a Service (PaaS). Cloud storage offers companies a way to archive their data for a long period of time without occupying internal storage space or spending a great deal of money. One study had revealed that as many as 60% of those polled will have as much as 14% of their company’s storage located in the cloud by the end of 2013.
Several large organizations are looking at cloud computing as a resource for their global enterprise. By storing company data in a virtual environment, company members can easily access the information from almost anywhere. In an era when businesses are spread across great distances, cloud computing provides the capability for employees around the world to connect with critical company data. This also supports the consistency of company data, since all employees are drawing their materials from one location instead of relying on timely distribution processes.
In fact, many industry professionals are forecasting that cloud computing technology will be used to solve problems that require centralized management and centralized security. Mobile cloud computing will be very popular for solving many of managing and securing multiple mobile devices, especially for businesses that have bring your own device (BYOD) strategies. The increase in cloud computing implementation in 2013 will draw more focus on what the technology can really do – its capabilities – and the value it brings. This year, we’ll see failures and successes of cloud computing, which will then develop into some new best practices and define the proper use of cloud computing.
To learn more about the other ways in which cloud computing has impacted IT purchasing decisions, click here.
Blog Author: Vanessa Hartung
