Educating you on the benefits and "how to" of integrating cloud computing with your business network.

A CDW-sponsored study of 1200 IT professionals shows that, while many organizations (84%) utilize at least one cloud-based computer application, only roughly one in four (28%) have a specific, methodological plan for adopting cloud computing.

Respondents indicated a slower-than-thought transition to the cloud.  Roughly half of those surveyed (42%) said that current computer applications in use could potentially be run “in the cloud,” yet only 1/3 anticipated cloud computing being a major expenditure for their organization by 2016.

Survey respondents continued to voice the same concerns over cloud computing (of note: security concerns and “transition pain” – what legacy applications can or cannot easily move to the cloud).  Of those actively considering implementing the cloud, the largest number favored a private cloud, where security concerns are minimized.  However, private cloud structures make the most sense for only very large organizations, due to cost and other constraints.  Very few respondents (7%) expressed plans to move to the public cloud.  While a hybrid cloud solution (“privatizing” the cloud in varying ways) would also allay many security concerns and other shortcomings of the public cloud, only about one in five (19%) indicated plans to move in this direction.

For now, it seems pragmatism is winning out over a more aggressive approach: many organizations are embracing the cloud albeit more slowly than anticipated by some, selecting cloud solutions that make the most sense (and require the least interruption) for their organizations.