Also reveals big data is the fastest-growing use-case for public cloud computing
According to a December 2012 survey of more than 200 IT professionals (95% of whom were US-based) by cloud server security firm CloudPassage, the single biggest use-case for public cloud computing is the deployment of external applications, Forty-one percent of respondents report using cloud servers to host external applications, suggesting there is less trepidation about moving business-critical applications to the cloud. The findings also indicate that trend will continue in 2013.
Internal application deployment follows with 36 % reporting that they use the cloud to host applications like HR, CRM and ERP. Additionally, 33% of respondents use it for internal development and testing, and 29% host e-commerce applications in the public cloud.
Big Plans for Big Data
Looking ahead into 2013, the survey found that many respondents have big plans for public cloud deployments, with big data and media heading the list. Additionally, according to the survey, 70% more organizations plan to use public cloud environments for temporary workload/big data in 2013 versus 2012. Similarly, respondents also indicated that they plan to increase their use of cloud-based media hosting (31%) and internal development/testing in 2013 (29%).
Clearly, it appears that big data may be the catalyst that accelerates the adoption of public cloud. Real-time scalability is a key driver.
Security in the Cloud
The Increase in cloud adoption can also be attributed, at least in part, to diminishing security concerns. Twenty-three percent expressed concerns about the lack of perimeter defenses and network controls within the public cloud and 20% worried about the multi-tenancy in the public cloud. Organizations now realizing that it is possible to both leverage cloud computing and satisfy security/ compliance requirements. This reality will have a tremendous impact in 2013 on the way companies architect their computing environments. The simple fact that more organizations are deploying business-critical applications on public cloud infrastructure is a sign that the cloud market is poised for a dramatic rise in adoption.
Better Understanding of User Security Responsibilities
The CloudPassage report also indicates that customers now have an increased understanding of the role that they must assume in a cloud-hosting relationship – namely that cloud security is not the responsibility of the cloud provider, a common misconception as recently as a year ago. When asked, more than 75% understand that cloud security is their responsibility.
Are you moving your business critical applications to the cloud?
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