Cloud Computing confusion continues

According to a survey of more than 200 IT professionals, the term ‘cloud computing’ brings a host of definitions and perceptions that may, in fact, stall enterprise adoption of cloud computing technologies.

Vendor of SaaS email security, email archiving and data loss prevention solutions, Proofpoint and Osterman Research found that a large number of IT professionals are still confused about the term ‘cloud computing.’ Nearly 40 percent of IT professionals answered “yes” to the question, when I hear the term cloud computing, I am generally confused given the many definitions’ (52 percent answered ‘no’). Thirty-three percent believe cloud computing is more hype than substance, while 24 percent ‘weren't sure.’

The understanding of cloud computing isn't any clearer in other areas of the enterprise.

For example, just 24 percent of respondents believe their CEO could define cloud computing while 59 percent thought their CEO would fail at the task. Finance directors would have a more difficult time defining cloud computing according to respondents – only 10 percent said their finance heads could accurately define cloud computing.

Responses to the Proofpoint survey also showed that opinions are split as far as the security of sensitive data in the cloud. Fifty percent believe that if they moved sensitive data to a cloud-based provider, they would run a higher risk of having that data compromised or being in violation of government data-protection statutes.

43 percent felt that ‘cloud computing is less secure than managing things in-house.

The August survey also found that cloud computing may be facing an unlikely detractor within the enterprise – the IT professional. When asked the question, ‘if we implemented cloud-based services, many of our IT staff members would perceive that our company was preparing to lay them off,’ 47 percent answered ‘yes’ and 30 percent answered ‘no’.

“Any great paradigm shift, cloud computing included, will always be accompanied by hype and a fair amount of confusion. So we’re not surprised to see those percentages, even among the power users – IT professionals. There’s still a significant amount of ‘fear, uncertainly and doubt’ surrounding data security and financial payback issues,” says Gary Steele, CEO of Proofpoint.

“The takeaway is that clearly all clouds are not created equal. Given the increasing number of SaaS email security and compliance solutions available and differences in data security, service level agreements, effectiveness and ease-of-use, enterprises must conduct their due diligence when moving these types of functions to the cloud.”
 


Register to attend Proofpoint’s live Web seminar, 'Cloud Computing Confusion: Is SaaS Email Security Right for Your Enterprise?' on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009.