Survey: Cloud Computing Not a Strategic Priority in 2010

Cloud computing is ubiquitous in name, but how significant is it in actual execution? In the data center, many businesses are placing their bets on conventional initiatives. In fact, the three major forms of cloud computing are at the bottom of the priority list.

According to the Symantec 2010 State of the Data Center survey released today, the top three data center priorities are security (83 percent), backup and disaster recovery (79 percent), and continuous data protection (76 percent). Cloud computing is ranked behind server consolidation, storage virtualization, data center consolidation and data deduplication.

By comparison, the three major cloud computing flavors are remarkably less support.

• Private cloud computing: 57 percent


• Hybrid cloud computing: 54 percent


• Public cloud computing: 53 percent

There's no denying that interest is building in cloud computing, software-as-a-service and Web-based services, but is interest indicative of adoption and execution? It may be that businesses are doing a lot of tire kicking and not buying cloud computing. Here's a telling point: 41 percent of businesses surveyed say cloud computing isn't covered in their current disaster recovery plans.

Now there's good news and bad news in the Symantec data center report. The good news is the discovery of a “Goldilocks' Zone,” a middle ground where businesses both have the ability to invest and are executing on plans. The survey revealed that enterprises have capital to invest, but are far slower in executing plans. Small businesses have need, but no capital for investment. The Goldilocks' Zone is midsized businesses that are more nimble in their IT plan execution. But these are the same businesses that are investing in conventional data center technologies rather than offloading to cloud services.

The good news for cloud computing providers and their resellers is small businesses and large enterprises are likely more primed for cloud computing deals. Small businesses that have need but no capital will find cloud alternatives more appealing. Enterprises, on the other hand, will pick up targeted cloud services that meet their needs.