Growth of Cloud Computing Brings Change and Disruption to IT Practices and Roles, New CompTIA Study Reveals

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., July 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The increasingly integral role of cloud computing in IT operations is accompanied by significant change and disruption for cloud users, their IT staffs and their technology providers, new research released today by CompTIA, the leading non-profit association for the information technology (IT) industry, reveals.

CompTIA's Third Annual Trends in Cloud Computing study finds more than eight in 10 companies currently use some form of cloud solution; and more than half plan to increase cloud investments by 10 percent or more in 2012. This popularity is driving both IT and business staff to experiment with cloud options and to re-examine the role and functions of IT.

"The option for cloud solutions for various parts of the computing stack is opening the doors for IT professionals to perform new tasks, or at least perform old tasks in new ways," said Seth Robinson, director, technology analysis, CompTIA. "It's also creating new job roles and functions to more tightly integrate IT teams with lines of business."

IT companies are poised to step up their involvement with the cloud. The number one catalyst firms cite as driving their entrance into cloud solutions is to provide their customers with access to new opportunities and capabilities not previously available to them.

"This is one of the truly disruptive aspects of the cloud model," said Carolyn April, director, industry analysis, CompTIA. "Sophisticated technology solutions were often out of the price range or skill set of many businesses. With cloud-based solutions these technologies come within the financial reach of even the smallest of small businesses."

Over the next 12 months, 42 percent of IT channel firms expect the cloud portion of their business to grow significantly – by 15 percent or more. The study also finds that nearly half of channel firms report either being at their targeted profitability with their cloud business today, or expect to be there in six months or less.

CompTIA's Third Annual Trends in Cloud Computing study is based on April 2012 surveys of 500 IT and business professionals in the United States involved in IT decision making; and 400 IT firms.

For more information, visit www.comptia.org or follow CompTIA at www.facebook.com/CompTIA and http://twitter.com/comptia.

SOURCE CompTIA