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Cloud Computing Underutilized
According to research conducted by a GFK (Global Research North America) Survey, only about one in ten consumers understand the term, Cloud Computing. This is surprising with the amount of connectivity out there today where information and data are accessed and shared through multiple devices like the I Pad, Smart Phone, and Laptop. Without a Cloud to store and retrieve this data, each device has to retrieve data stored internally, therefore creating an overload of internal capacity, and security issues.
“Consumers are now facing similar challenges once only faced by enterprises in needing to securely manage massive amounts of data,” Rob Barrish, senior vice president of GfK Business & Technology.
The survey conducted from a 1,000 adults indicated that 62% of respondents are not aware of the cloud, or were aware, but do not understand it. 60% of those users between ages 18-35 are interested in moving their data to the cloud where only 25% of those 50 and older were interested. See (GfK Survey: Cloud Computing Has the Power to Enhance Consumer Data Consumption, But Obstacles Hinder Greater Short-Term Adoption)
The term “Cloud” is a metaphor which refers to the Internet. Take a website for instance; all data is stored externally from the client device, PC, Laptop, I Pad, and Smart Phone on the host’s servers and data is accessed through the website. That represents a simple example. However, consumers have been reluctant to both learn and accept the concept and benefits of storing their own data externally due to security reasons, and a lack of knowledge. Large businesses have long ago adopted the Cloud as both an efficient and cost saving strategy for data storage and use. However, smaller businesses have been reluctant to join the ranks of Cloud clients due to the perceived costs involved.
The Armada Group specializes in helping growing companies design and implement “Smart Infrastructure” technology solutions. It understands that,
“Taking advantage of Cloud Computing, Virtualization, SOA and Web Services to provide optimal, cost effective, scalable service to both internal and external customers is (smart) technology.” See (Armada’s Cloud Readiness Assessment Survey Shows That Mid-sized Businesses Are On The Way To Adopting Cloud Computing)
Armada embarked on a Cloud Readiness Assessment Survey that revealed the following results.
Armada’s Cloud Readiness Assessment survey results include:
- 83% Using in-house systems and applications management
- 62% Are using some virtualization
- 63% Have 10% or less of their applications running on a SaaS platform
- 71% Have a defined IT architecture
- 54% Take a day or more to deploy a new server
- 71% Do not have a virtual desktop deployed
- 67% Are using or have plans to use cloud-based storage
- 75% Manage their own servers
- 79% Do not have an IT roadmap for cloud computing
- 63% Believe cloud offers cost saving
- 8% Believe cloud offers no advantages
- 29% Believe cloud offers increase flexibility
- 33% Use a remote storage server to back up data
- 4% Use a cloud-based solution to back up data
- 60% Back up their data locally
The take-away from knowing and adopting Cloud Computing is that data storage, access, and use continue to put heavy burdens on local infrastructures from consumers to small and mid-size businesses. Demand from an estimated 22 billion devices within the next decade seeking data from a variety of sources continues to increase at an alarming rate. Taking advantage of Cloud Services only makes good economic and security sense from a personal and commercial perspective. See (Top 10 Cloud Computing Services for 2010)
Related articles
- Cloud is Secure Enough for the Pentagon. Why Not You? (blogs.forbes.com)
- Here’s Why Cloud Computing Is So Hot Right Now (businessinsider.com)
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