Security still top cloud computing risk
Security is still at the top of the list of issues for companies concerned about cloud computing, according to a new report from KPMG.
The accountancy group has conducted research showing that the top use of cloud is still to achieve cost efficiencies - cited by 49 per cent of the executives taking part in the research - a slight rise on the number recorded in the 2012 version of the report (48 per cent).
KPMG's research found organisations are increasingly using cloud technology in order to enact large-scale change, whether this is within individual business units or across their enterprise.
Mark Shank, managing director of the digital and mobile practice at KPMG, stated that the demands of employees have changed a lot in the last ten years due to new technology.
He said: "Employees today demand the same access, experience and richness on their work computers and mobile devices as they have on their personal devices. Cloud is making that possible, and organisations are turning to it to enable a more flexible and mobile workforce."
However, this causes security concerns for companies as employees may not be aware of the risks involved of using personal devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops for work.
Half of KPMG's survey respondents (50 per cent) stated that the risk of intellectual property theft is still their most significant challenge to doing business in the cloud, with this figure followed by data loss and privacy risk, cited by 45 per cent. Compared to the 2012 report, security and data privacy have become greater concerns than cost efficiency, KPMG revealed.
Rick Wright, principal and global cloud enablement leader at KPMG, stated that the challenge posed by cloud related data loss and privacy threats is being taken seriously by executives.
He added: "The clear trend in the data that we have collected shows that, even in the face of significant media attention paid to recent data breaches, global leaders are still willing to embrace the transformative potential of the cloud."
Businesses looking to move services into the cloud should evaluate the performance of their existing network and consider setting up a leased line or MPLS network.
