A review of the CSC Cloud Usage Index Report
One thing is not cloudy at all: cloud computing has extended worldwide, and this means we can finally gather some valuable user information and statistics about this booming new technology. A recent survey of 3645 experienced cloud users from 8 countries (United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Brazil, Australia, Japan and Singapore) focused on receiving information about real-life experiences and outcomes of the cloud. Through 18 questions, the CSC Cloud Usage Index Survey uncovered both expected and surprising facts and attitudes regarding cloud usage. Among the findings was the fact that it is accessibility, not cost or agility, driving the adoption of cloud computing. And while savings do exist, they are not as significant as many believe. Additionally, the benefits of the cloud are extremely apparent, with most organizations experiencing improvements within just months of the transition.
Accessibility
The survey found that the most important aspect of the cloud for adopters was the ability to connect employees through the use of multiple computing devices. 33% of the respondents cited this as their main reason for making the move to the cloud. Cost savings and business agility are often assumed to be the primary motivation, so this was a valuable new finding. Naturally, this preference for accessibility was most prevalent among small businesses, especially in the United States. True mobility and constant access allows for ease of operations and collaboration, both of which are beneficial to organizations with smaller budgets and fewer resources. With cloud computing, users can connect to their business data and programs through any Internet-capable computing device, in any location globally. This offers pretty amazing flexibility, allowing employees to work when and how they need to.
IT Performance
The majority of organizations have seen improvements in their IT performance following the implementation of cloud computing. A dominating 93% saw at least one area of improvement, with many businesses seeing more than one. Better yet, the majority of businesses experienced greater data center efficiency and utilization, as well as lowered operating costs, within only six months of moving to the cloud! This speaks volumes, demonstrating the true quality and benefits of the cloud for business.
Cost Savings
A more surprising finding is that the cost reductions resulting from the cloud are actually quite modest. As was previously discussed though, cost is not the main reason for moving to the cloud, and it’s clearly not affecting adoption rates. Even though the savings are small, 82% of organizations did cut costs with their latest cloud project – and in our eyes, some savings are much better than no savings!
In the Workforce
A constant area of concern in regards to the cloud is how it will be brought into the workplace. It seems that this is being addressed, as the majority of survey respondents say they provide information or training to prepare employees for cloud adoption. Brazil does an especially good job with this, with 97% of businesses holding training, increasing help desk support or establishing beta testers in order to make it a smooth transition.
Additionally, there is less workforce resistance towards the growing technology, with 74% of small businesses saying they faced absolutely no resistance when they decided to implement the cloud. Most businesses have long-term outlooks on the cloud, with subscriptions of one year or more. With so many organizations in it for the long haul, it’s clear that the business world is realizing the value of the cloud and its various services.
Emerging Trends
As the cloud continues to grow and evolve, new trends will continue to emerge. Among current trends is the sustainability of cloud computing. It is clearly giving companies a green boost, with 64% of survey respondents saying that the cloud has helped reduce overall waste and lower their energy consumption (which also helps reduce spending!). A computing environment that gives back to the environment every day while offering quality and efficiency is simply unbeatable.
There is also a trend of government cloud adoption. This is especially prevalent in the United States, as half of government agencies have moved at least one workflow to the cloud since the implementation of the “cloud-first” policy. This number is sure to grow in coming years.
The CSC Cloud Usage Index Survey definitely captured valuable information about the true outcomes of and experiences with the cloud. The informative survey makes it clear that the cloud is still evolving and there is much to be learned, but it is also apparent that cloud technology is transforming the business world in a positive way. For the complete CSC Cloud Usage Index Survey and more specifics on the results in each country, click HERE
