Research shows that the value of cloud computing and telecommuting is exaggerated

Note To Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Cisco that while cloud computing services are constantly being advertised, most small and medium-sized businesses still use cloud computing as a complementary option rather than a substitute.

SWC Marvell has recently launched a survey of IT and business leaders from 210 midsize enterprises. The survey shows that, at least for midsize enterprises, cloud computing is still at the beginning of its development. The survey also found that telecommuting was accepted in the midrange market as a surprise.

SWC's survey shows that there is a disconnect between the hype about cloud computing and its actual implementation. Only 3.7% of respondents said their companies adopted cloud computing solutions across the company. More than half (54.2%) of respondents said their businesses did not use a single cloud. Privacy and security issues were among the most concerned by respondents (20.9%), followed by cost factors (accounting for 9.8%).

"It industry may be full of hype. SWC Vice President Elliott Baretz. "But the reason most companies choose to avoid cloud computing is not about technical issues. Privacy and compliance with relevant legal issues are the focus of business. ”

In the cloud services world, Microsoft Exchange and SharePoint have been leading. Its email, Office appliances and document management tools are the best cloud products. Nearly 65% of the respondents used Microsoft's Exchange Online and 48% of them used Microsoft SharePoint Online. The share of Google's users is also impressive, with 24% of respondents saying they chose Google's cloud service (Google Apps). Surprisingly, Amazon's EC2 cloud service accounts for only 7.4%.

Baretz said that most cloud users are SMEs and entrepreneurial phase of the enterprise, the use of cloud services is conducive to its cost-effectiveness. These companies can save money on the most expensive infrastructure by adopting cloud services.

According to the survey, enterprises in the mid-tier are still cautious about controlling hardware and software expenditures, but they do not exclude cloud services as a complementary solution.

The following comments come from one of the respondents:

"I don't think cloud computing will replace the traditional model we're using now, but it's definitely going to grow." Cloud services can share data across multiple devices, enabling users to work in the most efficient manner anywhere and at any time. But it is unlikely to replace local applications and user support that require high-performance, well-designed, and low-latency. ”

As for the near future, cloud computing will slowly adapt to the cloud model as those small companies continue to grow, Baretz said. The growth of small and medium-sized enterprises will bring new opportunities for cloud services.

In addition to the low adoption rate of cloud services, the survey was pleasantly surprised to find that the degree of acceptance and implementation of telecommuting has been in place for the past two years.

Only 14% of respondents said telecommuting was a norm, down 1% from a 2009-year survey. Respondents who said that telecommuting was "banned by the business" showed a decrease, but only 3%, compared with a 2009-year survey.

This small drop is really surprising, since it can support telecommuting, such as unified messaging and videoconferencing, to save costs.

"It is difficult to explain why the adoption rate for telecommuting has not reached the desired level." "Baretz said. "One assumption may be that business leaders who are out of recession want to strengthen team cohesion through more concrete face-to-face communication." ”

Surveys show that the greater the size of the enterprise, the more accepting and supporting the use of telecommuting.

The largest company in the SWC survey, with more than 2000 employees, is disproportionately receptive to telecommuting, with more than 20% per cent of respondents saying telecommuting is a norm, meaning more employees tend to not use telecommuting.

"And the small and medium-sized enterprises and those who have just created the enterprise team close contact, basically every day can face each other." "Baretz said. "So they prefer telecommuting. Compressed travel is their priority. ”

The majority of respondents to the survey conducted by SWC Marvell Partner in June 2011 were both IT management and business leaders from enterprises in Illinois State, Wisconsin State and Indiana. The industries covered include manufacturing, retailing, education, construction, health care and industry. 67% per cent of those surveyed managed 100 to 2000 people. (Compile: LITAO984LT)

Author profile: Shane O ' Neill writes articles for Microsoft, Windows, operating systems, Office software, and online services for the cio.com website. You can focus on Twitter through @smoneill. Focus on cio.com through @cioonline and Facebook. Shane e-mail is soneill@cio.com.

(Responsible editor: The good of the Legacy)