Move to Cloud Not Slowing, but Security Concerns Linger

Organizations see improved efficiency, flexibility, finds study sponsored by Sungard Availability Services and EMC

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Oct 02, 2014, 09:03 ET

WAYNE, Pa., Oct. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The swift migration to cloud computing and data recovery services shows no signs of slowing, with half of organizations reporting they expect to boost their cloud services budgets over the next 18 months, according to a new study conducted by IDG Research Services on behalf of Sungard® Availability Services™ and EMC® Corporation.

Sungard Availability Services Partners with Zyme to deliver cloud and disaster recovery services. (PRNewsFoto/)

The survey of 132 organizations found that driving the movement to the cloud are pressures to pare costs and "do more with less," as well as the desire for employee mobility. In fact, the percentage of IT services provided by third parties – including outsourcers and cloud providers – is expected to climb 37 percent over the next three to five years. Respondents ranged from companies with less than 1,000 employees to those with more than 10,000.

Of those anticipating increasing their cloud service budgets:

12 percent foresee a rise above 10 percent;
18 percent expect a six to 10 percent boost;
20 percent anticipate a one to five percent increase over the next 18 months;
Two in five expect spending to remain the same;
10 percent foresee cloud service budgets decreasing. Average outlays are forecast to rise about three percent.

"Our survey confirms that organizations are becoming more sophisticated and knowledgeable about their uses for cloud," said Jack Dziak, Executive Vice President, Global Products, Sungard Availability Services. "Indications are that while organizations are content to move productivity applications such as e-mail, HR, collaboration and conferencing solutions to the cloud, they are still hesitant to migrate mission critical applications relating to compliance, supply chain, and product lifecycle management."

Tony McCoy, Vice President, Cloud Service Providers, EMC Corporation added: "The cloud provides organizations with simplicity, choice and interoperability to help transform IT. EMC-powered cloud solutions offered by EMC Cloud Service Providers help enable organizations with the ability to respond to the changing needs of their customers. While a one-cloud-fits-all strategy is no longer enough, IT leaders clearly see the benefits of cloud services as a business enabler."

Security Still a Top Concern

Among the more challenging elements of the cloud, security ranks atop the list of concerns:

65 percent of respondents are worried about security;
Security also stands atop the list of challenges holding organizations back from adopting cloud recovery services, with 63 percent expressing concern;
Organizations also wonder whether they will realize a return on their cloud spending, with 38 percent believing it will prove a challenge to realize an ROI on cloud recovery services.

Not surprisingly, those already investing in cloud recovery services do not report security as a challenge. Regardless, organizations surveyed are moving quickly to cloud computing to gain the benefits of cloud services and data recovery services in the cloud.

Organizations anticipate benefiting from cloud computing in several ways:

64 percent of respondents expect improved efficiency;
58 percent foresee increased flexibility from using cloud services;
While improved customer satisfaction is considered less important as a benefit, with 39 percent listing it, it still ranks as the third most significant benefit;
Other benefits cited include cloud recovery services, reduced downtime, improved reliability and enhanced productivity.

As for cloud recovery services, nearly half of organizations (46 percent) already invest in such services or plan to within the next one to two years, the survey revealed. Another 30 percent have such services on their radar. With speed of recovery listed as the top benefit of cloud recovery services, over six in ten respondents report four hours or less as the ideal recovery time goal.

The full results of the survey can be found here.

About Sungard Availability Services

Sungard® Availability Services™ (Sungard AS) has more than 30 years of experience providing flexible availability services that help ensure organizations keep applications always on, always available. The company leverages its proven expertise to provide managed IT services, information availability consulting services, business continuity management software and disaster recovery services to clients in North America, Europe and India. Sungard AS helps customers improve the resiliency of their mission critical systems by designing, implementing and managing cost-effective solutions using people, process and technology to address enterprise IT availability needs.

To learn more, visit www.sungardas.com or call 1-800-468-7483. Connect with us on Twitter @Sungardas, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Sungard Availability Services is a trademark of SunGard Data Systems or its affiliate, used under license. The Sungard Availability Services logo by itself is a trademark of Sungard Availability Services Capital, Inc. or its affiliate. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.

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