Ireland among nations with highest rate of cloud services use
23 August 2011 16:40:27
The cloud computing industry has achieved much global success in its relatively short tenure. In some nations, the technology has transformed the way in which certain industries conduct business. Silicon Republic recently published an article explaining the success of cloud computing in Ireland.
According to the source, a recent study from Goodbody Economic Consultants showed 30 percent of Irish firms are currently using the cloud to sell goods and services. While experts believe security concerns are the biggest reasons some businesses choose to pass on the technology, many agree that these issues will subside, propelling cloud services toward being the standard form within the next decade.
"The main advantage is that instead of buying new computers and having to shell out capital expenditure, you can rent space on a cloud provider's computer and you can recognize the money you spend on it as operational expenditure," William Fellows of The 451 Group told the website. "The economic benefit is that it allows people to avoid having to provision all the IT to meet their peak demand."
The website asserts that the public sector's commitment to adopt cloud services for cost efficiency could increase the comfort levels of more prospective private businesses. In the United States, Government Computer News notes, the federal chief information officer has confirmed his commitment to move much of the federal government's operations to both public and private clouds, depending on the sensitivity of data.
The Cloud First Policy, created by former CIO Vivek Kundra and perpetuated by the current CIO, Steven VanRoekel, aims to cut federal IT spending, and streamline practices to improve both the sustainability and efficiency of government operations.
As Silicon Republic reports, the transition costs of moving to a private cloud service was around 25 percent lower than the other services of the past. These numbers, the website affirms, will likely compel more business owners and CIOs to consider the transition, especially once the public and private clouds prove secure enough for the public sector.
The massive overhaul of IT to the cloud appears imminent at present. According to industry expert Gartner, global revenues from cloud computing services are projected to reach close to $150 billion by 2014. The United States represents 60 percent of the global cloud services revenues, Gartner adds.
Additionally, the International Data Corporation projects the cloud industry to grow from 600,000 units in 2010, to 1.3 million units by 2014.
-McAfee Cloud Security
