Organizations are increasingly reluctant moving to the cloud because of security issues, regardless if they have their heart set on Google Apps or Office 365. According to Bitglass, a Microsoft and Google partner, cloud adoption is advancing at a much slower rate than initially predicted. And although Bitglass is seeing Google being adopted more frequently, the biggest stumbling block for both mighty foes is the perceived (or real) lack of security for data and apps in the cloud.
Bitglass’ “Cloud Adoption Report” noted that 52 percent of large companies and one-third of small and medium businesses (SMBs) are not moving to the cloud because of security concerns. But not only that, concerns about security are not only not decreasing; they’re increasing. A previous report from October 2011 indicated 25 percent of businesses expressed some concern over cloud security, but that figure increased to 42 percent in July 2013.
“Because larger companies have more-established IT processes, they generally have a higher amount of paranoia with respect to cloud security issues. However, they also have the largest economic gains to be had from moving to cloud,” said Nat Kausik, CEO of Bitglass, in a prepared statement.
But for those who have accepted the cloud as the vision of IT, cloud-based email is the “bellwether” of adoption. It’s more likely for private companies to adopt cloud-based email than public companies, but of those organizations who have adopted cloud email, it looks as though Google (GOOG) has taken a lead in the market over major competitor Microsoft (MSFT).
According to Bitglass, 16.5 percent of private companies and 11.9 percent of public companies sampled had chosen Google’s Gmail for its cloud email solution, but that number dropped off 7.6 percent of private companies and 8.8 percent of public companies for Microsoft cloud email offerings.
“Since public companies are generally larger and older, they are more likely to have history and substantial ties to Microsoft,” Kausik said. “We believe that the lower rate of cloud adoption among public companies is due to additional regulatory and reporting burdens that private companies do not face. Given the compliance and audit capabilities lacking in most cloud apps, we expect third-party security technology will be required to help close this gap.”
So there you have it. Organizations are not jumping on the cloud bandwagon in droves because of security concerns and Google and Office 365 seem to be in a neck and neck race to gain the lead. Which one are you betting on?
