Why 2012 is when businesses will embrace the cloud

Why 2012 is when businesses will embrace the cloud

Was 2011 the year of cloud computing? Whatever your view, there’s certainly no denying that it created a lot of hype.

I like to say it was the year when businesses discovered the Cloud. It’s during 2012 that we’ll see a bigger movement towards it.

Cloud computing has been around for years, but it was only last year that the technology and marketing hit that critical point where businesses could start to fully understand what it is.

This year, 2012, will be the real year of the cloud. This is why:

• We get cloud computing. Most businesses now understand cloud computing. In March 2011 we ran a Twitter poll which found only 64% of people who answered had heard of the cloud. The same question asked in January 2012 saw the figure jump to 91%. (This year’s poll also revealed  that although only 27% of respondents were using the Cloud, 75% said they would be considering it for 2012.)
• We like cloud computing. The cloud’s credibility has increased significantly. Along with other major companies, Apple can probably claim much of the credit for that, because it incorporated its own cloud service into advertisements for the new iPhone.
• It’s going to get social. Social networks show no signs of losing their popularity and the cloud is already starting to become more social, which makes it more appealing. Because cloud computing stores all your data centrally, it makes sharing and collaborating much easier. Take Salesforce: it’s taking this further with the introduction of Chatter, a private social network for employees.
• New jobs will emerge. Despite initial speculation that cloud computing would reduce the number of IT jobs available, 2012 will see new job titles emerging. The Recruitment & Employment Confederation recently announced that its members expect demand for staff with IT skills to increase in 2012. Job roles like ‘cloud transformation officer’ barely existed in 2011 and yet the number of roles available is set to grow this year.
• We trust it. Trust has always been a major issue with the cloud. People worry about where their data is stored, how safe it is and what the chance are of it getting lost. In response, cloud computing providers are addressing this issue, tightening security and demonstrating how the cloud often involves less risk than storing data locally.

At SpiderGroup, we are already seeing an increase in cloud popularity. We believe 2012 is, without doubt, the year of the cloud. And we promise not to say the same thing next year.

• Q&A: cloud computing security
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• Are you ready for cloud computing?

This guest post was written by Kerry Hale from SpiderGroup.

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