Security issues continue to be a leading concern for businesses implementing cloud computing technologies but workplace disruption is a close second, according to a recent survey by hardware and software solutions provider Insight Enterprise Inc.
“The primary hesitancies from businesses include data security, unknown costs, and an ongoing lack of knowledge about how the cloud can deliver efficiencies,” according to the American firm’s Top Cloud Tech Concerns for 2015 report which showed most businesses are moving toward the cloud for efficiencies, but still lack trust in cloud security.
According to Insight’s survey the following are they priority concerns of many businesses:
- Cloud Security – A fear of losing control of operations by moving services to the cloud is a top concern for 2015, along with a concern that IT data may be less secure in the cloud. Early enterprise fears of cloud security have begun to ease as employee use of mobile devices and non-approved cloud services have continued to grow rapidly highlighting the need for centralized, securely managed Cloud solutions for businesses, according to Insight.
- Change in the workplace – Many IT departments report concerns about whether migration to the cloud would needlessly “rock the boat” in 2015. However, companies that have already moved services to the cloud have been able to reassign IT staff to more strategic initiatives. Companies that move to the cloud also report increased employee satisfaction by addressing issues surrounding employees using their own devices, increased collaboration and increased co-worker engagement.
- Return on investment – A primary question IT professionals ask when considering a move to the cloud is, “Will it be worth it?” Yet most companies that did migrate to the cloud in 2014 report that they now have more predictable costs and faster access to advanced features and capabilities. For example, corralling big data has been a challenge to doing business, and the cloud has become central to big data analytics. Adoption of software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions is gaining ground quickly. SaaS solutions that are considered easier to adopt are office collaboration, file synch and share, VoIP (Voice over IP), mobile device management, and others as they allow clients to connect and collaborate easily and scale quickly to meet client needs, according to Insight.
- Trusting the cloud – Businesses also report a lack of trust in having a second or third party handle their operations in the cloud. When considering a move to the cloud in 2015, companies indicated that they are concerned about giving up control of sensitive data.
- How to get smart about the cloud – A common IT department question going into 2015 is “How do I even migrate my company to the cloud?” Cloud applications that businesses plan to deploy in 2015 are CRM and collaboration tools, Web applications, data warehousing systems and email.
“Businesses are asking the right questions about how the cloud will work across infrastructure, platforms, and applications, and many are starting to embrace the efficiencies and potential benefits from improved agility, greater employee collaboration, and reduced IT complexity,” said Harish Krishnamurthy, senior vice-president, Insight Cloud Services. “However, we are still seeing adoption apprehension because of concerns surrounding security and data management.”