InformationWeek Analytics New Research Finds 67% Rise in Number of Companies Using Cloud Services; 13% More Plan to Use the Cloud

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- InformationWeek Analytics, the leading service for peer-based IT research and analysis, today announced the release of its latest research report; State of Cloud 2011: Time for Process Maturation encompasses analysis of our latest cloud computing survey results and guides readers in successful integration, management and monitoring of cloud services. It also includes an exclusive ROI analysis and customizable worksheet to calculate costs of internal vs. cloud deployments. More than 600 business technology decision makers responded to the survey. The report author, Michael Healey, is president of Yeoman Technology Group.

Research Summary:

Companies can't resist the lure of cloud services - but in their rush to save time and money, many are neglecting such bread-and-butter fundamentals as integration, security, connectivity, monitoring, continuity planning and long-term staffing. This shortsightedness makes them vulnerable to potential failure.

Findings:  

• The number of companies using cloud services increased from 18% in February 2009 to 30% in October 2010, according to the 2011 InformationWeek Analytics State of Cloud Computing Survey; that's a leap of 67%.
• Another 13% of respondents say they plan to use cloud services within 12 months.
• Only 29% of firms using or planning to use the cloud have evaluated its impact on their existing architectures.
• Just 20% of those polled say they monitor cloud applications and throughput.
• 40% say they don't have any monitoring program in place for cloud services.

For full access to the research data, members can download now: http://analytics.informationweek.com/abstract/5/5116/Cloud-Computing/research-2011-state-of-cloud.html

"The up-front cost savings and speed to market you get from the cloud make it extremely tempting," says Lorna Garey, content director of InformationWeek Analytics. "And that's great - you should take advantage of it. But first you have to put some processes in place so cloud services - and responsibility for those services - are integrated into your existing set-up. Cloud applications must be monitored and measured just like any other application," she adds.

InformationWeek Analytics is a subscription-based service, offering peer-based technology research. Its site currently houses more than 900 reports and briefs, and includes a dedicated area where technology professionals can access complete issues of InformationWeek Magazine. More than 100 new reports are slated for release in 2011. InformationWeek Analytics members have access to:

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