Cloud computing improves flexibility, productivity in enterprise
Friday, October 28, 2011 4:37:26 PM
More businesses and high ranking executives are beginning to find new ways in which cloud computing can transform their operations and general practices. From improved efficiency, transparency and flexibility to reduced IT expenditures, the new technology has taken many industries by storm.
The Silicon Republic recently published an article explaining the ways in which the cloud improves businesses, especially those that are large and have many departments and personnel in distant locations. First, the article explains that the cloud allows employees to work from home more successfully, and provides a push to productivity in the face of unforeseen events, such as unfavorable weather.
"Traditionally, we would have all liked to see our employees trudge in at 8:30 am or 9:00 am to sit at their desk and we would want to see them to know that they're being productive," Guido Marchetti, an account manager for a technology firm, told the news provider. "However, I use cloud services on a daily basis and it allows me to be an awful lot more productive."
New reports revealed that the cloud industry is expanding at an even faster pace than previous estimations suggested. Gartner projects the cloud industry to expand especially fast in the Software-as-a-Service industry, while the firm expects the United States to continue to lead in SaaS revenues and production.
The International Data Corporation has similar predictions. "Both public and private cloud will shape the server market through 2014," said research analyst Katherine Broderick of IDC's Enterprise Servers and Datacenter Trends in a company release. "Cloud will grow from a $3.8 billion opportunity in 2010, representing over 600,000 units, to a $6.4 billion market in 2014, with over 1.3 million units.
One shift in projections might be the result of more awareness of what the cloud actually is, as well as proven stories of the impressive security possibilities the cloud provides, especially in regard to the private and hybrid clouds now being used by enterprises with more data compliance requirements. Many believed security concerns and misinformation were the biggest impediments to the industry.
The Cloud Security Alliance began distributing its Security, Trust and Assurance Register to cloud vendors, in an attempt to standardize much of the industry's security standards and general practices. The CSA expects the register to be available for public and enterprise use within the next two months.
-McAfee Cloud Security
