ReadyDynamics.com, on behalf of the Irish Internet Association, has revealed in an Irish-focused cloud computing market research survey that cloud computing is being taken more seriously by larger Irish enterprises.
The survey was completed by 217 respondents, with 70pc of those considering themselves senior management.
More than 70pc of survey takers said they had a clear understanding of cloud computing, compared to just 50pc last year.
When vendors were excluded from these figures, this improved understanding drops to 65pc, however, it is still an improvement of 20pc from 2009.
IT managers have improved their understanding from 57pc to 82pc.
Some 94pc of survey participants expressed confidence in the potential of cloud computing. When only the largest enterprises were surveyed, this drops to 91pc, still a significant improvement on 2009.
Forecast for uptake in cloud computing
Research data predicts a 30pc increase in cloud computing take up in the next four years, with larger Irish enterprises predicting increased use across nine IT categories.
In this survey, 22pc of participants were vendors and 78pc were non-vendors.
Some 26pc of all survey takers work in technology, 17pc work in professional services, 11pc work in financial services, 11pc work in manufacturing and 10pc work in the public sector.
Forty per cent work in mid-market companies, including 19pc who work in enterprises with more than 500 employees.
Sixty per cent of the respondents work in SMEs with less than 50 employees.
Thirty-five per cent of survey takers work in general management, 45pc in IT and 13pc in finance.
“This research analysis – the only of its kind – demonstrates a clear maturing in the Irish market for this relatively young IT innovation,” said Gerry Power, chairman of the IIA Working Group on Cloud Computing.
Powered noted that the data “confirms Irish companies recognise the opportunity to use cloud technology to cut costs and improve efficiencies during this challenging economic downturn.”
