Half of IT pros 'don’t know' what cloud computing is

Almost half of IT professionals admit they don’t know what cloud computing is, according to a survey released today.

Carried out by document management software company Version One, the survey showed that 41 per cent of respondents don't know what cloud computing is and 29 per cent don't know if their company is using it or not.

Julian Buck, general manager of Version One, said: “Although this is only a small survey of IT professionals, the results are nonetheless very alarming, especially as IT professionals are the very people that need to understand cloud computing so that they can explain its benefits to management.”

The survey also highlighted that there is not a universal definition for cloud computing. Some 17 per cent of those claiming to know what it was, believed it was internet-based computing and 11 per cent thought it was a combination of internet-based computing, software as a service (SAAS), software on demand, an outsourced or managed service and a hosted software service.

Buck said: “If organisations are going to embrace cloud computing in the future it’s essential that a single, simplified explanation is adopted by everyone. Failure to cut through the confusion could result in organisations rejecting this technology and missing out on the benefits it provides.”

However, it appears that organisations are already saying no to cloud computing. The survey showed only two per cent of respondents saying their company is definitely going to invest in the technology in the next 12 months whilst 23 per cent said they have no plans to.

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