Cloud computing service spending increases: GartnerSurvey finds...

Cloud computing service spending increases: Gartner
Survey finds cloud represents 10 per cent of external IT spend
Computerworld Staff 27/09/2010 08:47:00


A global survey conducted by analyst firm Gartner has found that cloud computing services from external service providers is increasing and now represents 10.2 per cent of IT service spend.

Over 1400 IT professionals from 40 countries including Australia responded to the survey. The Asia/Pacific region spent between 40 and 50 per cent of cloud budget on services from external providers.

Gartner research director, Bob Igou, said 46 per cent of respondents with budget allocated to cloud computing indicated they planned to increase the use of cloud services from external providers.

39 per cent of respondents indicated allocating IT budget to cloud computing was a key initiative for their organisation.

"One-third of the spending on cloud computing is a continuation from the previous budget year, a further third is incremental spending, and 14 percent is spending that was diverted from a different budget category," he said

Forty three per cent of participants expected an increase in spending for private cloud implementations while only 32 per cent cited an increase for external use.

"This is yet another trend that indicates a shift in spending from traditional IT assets such as the data centre and a move toward assets that are accessed in the cloud," Igou said.

"Service marketing and service delivery managers need to lead the curve of investment in the skills and capabilities of their service offerings, which means investing before having contracts."