IDC Survey: UK Managers see Cloud as Means to Solve Key Business Issues

IDC Survey: UK Managers see Cloud as Means to Solve Key Business Issues PR Newswire LONDON, October 3, 2012 LONDON, October 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cost is still a major driver for cloud 40 per cent of UK enterprises have a private cloud strategy Full results to be discussed in IDG webcast on October 4 The cloud as a standalone IT improvement solution is a top priority for 40% of UK enterprises, yet it is seen as a means to solve key business issues by 75% of UK managers. Two out of three of IT managers believe that using the cloud will give them a competitive edge in their markets. But the top priorities for UK IT managers are to improve quality of service, support mobility, and facilitate collaboration. Cost is still a major driver for the cloud, however, with three in four respondents saying they are likely to introduce new cloud solutions to reduce IT costs over the next year. Reducing IT costs is still the cloud benefit mentioned most often, but it is not as dominant as it was a few years ago, when almost all companies singled out lower costs as the most important benefit to be gained from the cloud. Cost aspects are now the key reason for less than 40 percent of companies, while issues that influence work processes and company agility such as improved data access, introduction of new products, and changes to the application estate are the most important reasons cited in more than 60% of cases. Most companies plan to introduce new cloud solutions over the next year.