Editor's Perspective

 

The leading reasons for considering cloud computing cited by poll respondents were budget (22 percent) and storage (17 percent) limitations. On the other hand, 54 percent of participants pointed to security as their chief concern. One unexpected concern was with the use of cloud computing solutions with an existing grid platform.

Another government/industry concern was with a lack of appropriate contracting vehicles. Jackson summed up his findings this way: “This industry survey provided a clear verdict on the use of cloud computing by the public sector. The industry’s customers and solution providers are moving fairly quickly to embrace this new approach. Public sector interest in the Cloud Musings blog suggests that this market segment could represent as much as 10 percent of the cloud computing industry. Capital budget limitations, data and content storage and support of operational spikes seem to be the leading drivers of cloud computing interest and activity.

“Although security still remains a concern, these issues are not stopping the deployment of global infrastructures that will use cloud computing technologies,” he continued. “Lack of appropriate contracting vehicles, however, may slow adoption within the public sector.”

We’ll be following the cloud computing trend closely in 2009. 

Harrison Donnelly, Editor
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