Cloud users remain worried by security, lock-in

Firms that have switched to cloud computing continue to worry about security, vendor lock-in and management, according to analysts.

However, those using the cloud and those who still haven't moved to the computing model have different concerns, according to an IDC survey of 700 IT decision-makers.

The study showed 43% of "full" users were concerned about security, compared to about 39% of non-users and 33% of "limited" users. More cloud users were worried about contract lock-ins (33%) compared to those yet to move to the cloud (24%).

Those organisations that are most committed to the cloud have the most concerns

The ability to audit data held in the cloud was of concern to about 36% of full users but only about 27% of those not using cloud services.

The location where data is stored concerned about 39% of non-users while those who had already taken their first steps into the cloud were far less worried (30%), however.

“Two specific areas of concern, data location and control over upgrades, are mentioned by a significantly higher proportion of non-users of the cloud than users, and therefore need to be addressed by cloud vendors seeking to market to the ‘late majority’ of user organisations,” IDC analyst David Bradshaw said.

"Perhaps of more concern, those organisations that are most committed to the cloud have the most concerns. This is likely because they have issues that they have to take into account on a day-to-day basis while managing their over-all IT estate.”

Vendors need to examine their policies in such areas in order to win customers, Bradshaw said.

“These are areas that could help rival vendors, for example those offering private cloud services for an affordable premium over public cloud services, to win over the heaviest users,” he said.

“In the medium term, IDC believes public cloud vendors will all have to address these and other governance issues, as they will assist them to retain customers and win over those who are unwilling to place business-critical processes in the cloud.”

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