Hybrid Cloud Model to Remain Dominant in Next Few Years

Cloud strategy

Types of Cloud in Use

IT organizations definitely have their heads in the cloud. SaaS apps top the list at 72.4%. Just over half the respondents are using IaaS (55.9%) and cloud storage (53.7%). Surprisingly, 41.2% are making use of a PaaS environment.

Types of Clouds in Use in Two Years

There’s not much change from today. SaaS applications top the list at 76.4%, followed by IaaS (65.7%), cloud storage (64.6%) and PaaS (62.2%).

Where the Cloud Will Be Used

Cloud use will expand where it’s already proven. In 12 to 24 months, the top three areas of usage will be Web hosting, communications services (such as email) and application testing.

Top Emerging Use Cases for Cloud

The cloud is moving into the realm of business applications. The major opportunities are in sales/marketing, followed by business analytics and customer service.

Dependency on the Cloud

Organizations are comfortable with the cloud. A full 45.4% are either running their companies off the cloud or want to do so; 49.2% use the cloud to drive new streams of revenue.

Focus of Cloud Computing Strategy

Hybrid cloud computing gives organizations the best of both cloud worlds. Many (41.8%) are focused on hybrid cloud computing, followed by public clouds (31.6%) and then private clouds (23.9%).

Focus of Cloud Computing Strategy in Two Years

Hybrid cloud computing will still lead, but private cloud will fall. In two years, 54.9% will be focused on hybrid clouds. But public clouds rise to 30.6%, compared with only 12.7% for private clouds.

Location of Data Today

Most data today is controlled by internal IT. The majority of data today is located inside companies’ own data centers or private clouds.

Location of Data in Two Years

Data is rapidly shifting to hybrid and public clouds. Data will be much more evenly distributed between cloud computing environments.

Biggest Drivers of Cloud Adoption

There are three things internal IT organizations can’t compete against. Scalability tops the list, at 54.1%, followed by cost, 52.5%; and business agility, 52%.

Top Inhibitors of Cloud Adoption

Doubts about cloud security continue to persist. Security tops the list, at 47.5%, followed by regulatory compliance, at 33.8%.