Cloud has 'no relevance' say three-quarters of IT managers

Report shows less enthusiasm for cloud computing than other studies

Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of UK IT managers think that cloud computing has no relevance to their business, according to a report published today by risk consultancy Protiviti.

The survey shows markedly less enthusiasm for cloud among UK IT departments than previous studies. But in keeping with other surveys of this kind, security and privacy concerns are highlighted as the main barriers to adopting cloud services.

The survey of 100 IT managers from across the UK also found that less than one in 10 (eight per cent) are using cloud for one or two services, while just three per cent of firms have adopted it widely across the business.

"It's surprising that so many IT managers appear to see no value in cloud technology," said Jonathan Wyatt, Protiviti UK managing director.

"At a time when companies are looking at ways to grow while keeping a lid on costs, cloud computing offers a way to significantly reduce overheads and to allow supply to be more directly matched to demand."

The companies most likely to be using cloud-related services are larger companies and those operating in the services sector, according to the report.

The research, carried out in October by Perspective Research Services, reveals security fears as the biggest barrier to the widespread adoption of cloud services, followed by worries around data privacy.

Other barriers include concerns over reliability and availability of services and concerns over business recovery, in the event of failure of a cloud provider.

Protiviti's research reveals that only three in 10 firms are planning to use cloud computing over the next three years, with 16 per cent looking to develop a private cloud service and 10 per cent considering using a public cloud service.

The remaining two per cent of IT managers say that their firms are currently looking at hybrid private cloud services.

Protoviti's research shows less enthusiasm for cloud computing than other recent reports. For example, a study by CompTIA published last month found that nearly one in three small and medium enterprises (SMEs) plan to use cloud computing in the next year.