Customer relationship management (CRM) and human resources management (HRM) technologies are leading the charge for cloud computing adoption in Australia, according to analyst firm, Frost and Sullivan.
The findings are the result of a recent survey of 330 IT “decision makers” from medium sized organisations across the Asia Pacific region by the analyst firm. It highlights the additional popular uses for Cloud computing, including server computing, desktop, security, and analytics or reporting applications, which was noted by more than a third of all participants.
According to the survey, over a third of Australian participants have adopted some form of Cloud computing, whether public, private or a hybrid service, and were optimistic for 2011. Some 36 per cent of all organisations indicated an increase in cloud computing budgets for next year, while 62 per cent of organisations noted intentions to maintain current spending levels. Just 2 per cent demonstrated plans to make any decreases in Cloud computing expenditure.
Frost and Sullivan research manager for ICT, Arun Chandrasekaran, said one of the most surprising findings of the survey was that the primary responsibility for the move to a Cloud environment largely lies within IT.
“This suggests that organisations may not be giving enough consideration to either the business benefits or the risks inherent in a shift to cloud computing,” Chandrasekaran said in a statement.
“What are the regulatory compliance issues when operating in the cloud and who is going to own legal liability if problems arise? There's a real need for CIOs and IT managers to lead the cloud discussion, but it's a discussion that must include senior management from across the business.”
According to the survey, all cloud users have embraced the software as a service (SaaS) delivery model, while three quarters are also using infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and just over half (53 per cent) are using the platform as a service (PaaS) model.
More than a third (35%) of Australian survey participants have adopted either public, private or hybrid cloud solutions. All cloud users have embraced the software as a service (SaaS) delivery model, while three quarters are also using infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and just over half (53%) are using the platform as a service (PaaS) model.
Analyst firm, Gartner, recently claimed that despite many organisations heading toward the private cloud to keep data more secure, information may actually be safer in the public cloud, noting the majority of organisations have concerns about security and regulatory compliance, however, when dealing with the private cloud, have no concerns about security at all
Cloud computing recently made it onto <i>Computerworld Australia’s</i> top ten most influential of 2010 list.
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