Do you believe that cloud computing will be a vital asset for your company in the next 12 to 18 months? A new study shows most of your peers do.
Google, which for some time now has been touting its own brand of cloud-based apps for businesses, conducted a study that surveyed 310 CFOs about cloud computing.
The results show that most surveyed were optimistic toward the cloud and definitely see it as means to increase productivity among workers and improve flexibility.
The hard data
The report laid out some interesting numbers:
- 81% said a complete implementation of cloud-based systems would improve employee productivity.
- 64% said a complete implementation of cloud technology would reduce their companies’ operational costs by up to 20%. An additional 15% anticipate cost savings in excess of 20%.
- 52% said their companies are in the process of considering or implementing cloud-based systems.
- 40% of respondents say that their companies consistently include cloud-based options alongside on-premises options when evaluating new systems, and 12% already prefer cloud-based systems over traditional on-site servers.
- 68% cite concerns with data security among the obstacles to implementing cloud technology.
Healthy skepticism?
Though these numbers appear to be optimistic, some of them raise some questions, namely the 68% concerned with security. The report said that some survey respondents cited due diligence and proper relationship governance as keys to overcoming the data security obstacle, but it doesn’t go into too much detail as to what that all entails.
Before making any rash decisions on implementation of cloud computing, it would be best to bring this study to the attention of your CIO and IT staff to get a different perspective.
Have you implemented cloud-based services into your operations? Do you plan to? Let us know your thoughts about the cloud in the comments below.