尽管云计算为企业组织提供了机遇，使他们改变了向企业提供信息科技解决方案的方式，但是Protiviti（领先独立的风险咨询与内部审计公司）的一项最新研究显示，近乎四分之三的英国IT管理者认为，“云计算”与他们的企业毫不相关。

Protiviti 的总经理Jonathan Wyatt说：“如此之多的管理者看来没有看到云计算技术的价值，这让我大吃一惊。云计算通过进一步外包充分利用现有的机会发展。新兴技术和云服务使企业组织改变了经营方式，最终实现降低成本的同时也提高了工作性能。”

当前仅有不到十分之一（8%）的受调查IT管理者称自己的企业在一两个服务中采用云计算技术，仅有3%的公司已经在企业中广泛使用云计算。使用云相关服务的公司大多都是大型以及从事服务业的公司。然而Protiviti指出，许多组织都没有明确的云计算策略。

根据调查，安全问题是云服务广泛应用中最大的障碍，其次就是数据保密问题。其他的障碍还包括服务可靠性和可用性，以及云供应商失败时的业务重整问题。

但是Protiviti警示，虽然需要严肃应对这些领域的风险，但云计算也有很大好处，企业要在应对风险的同时充分把握时机发展壮大。

Jonathan Wyatt说：“对安全性及数据保密的担心似乎使云计算潜在的益处相形见绌。企业需要多方面考虑云计算及其所带来的机遇。每当公司寻找发展途径，又受到成本限制时，云计算就会提供减少经费的方法，而且与需要直接匹配。”

Protiviti的调查显示，未来三年，仅有十分之三的公司计划使用云计算，16%准备开发私有云服务，10%正在考虑使用公共云服务。余下2%的IT管理者称，自己的公司正在寻找合资企业，开发半私有云服务。

缺乏技能和理解力也许是广泛采用云计算意义最深远的障碍。Protiviti最近公布了关于2011IT技能和需求的调查， 其中，公司认为需要改进的项目中，前三位中云计算和虚拟化占了两项。

Jonathan Wyatt 继续说道：所有的企业应首先在低风险的领域使用云计算进行实验。如：软件及服务（注重非企业的关键应用）以及平台即服务（为开发和测试设计）都可成为企业起步的选择。在这些低风险领域进行实验可让IT部门立即节省费用，还可让企业提高迎接新机遇的技能。

“我们已经做好了准备，看见众多客户通过获得云计算技术的回报，他们拥有了临时应对高要求的能力。 比如现在，网上零售商不必全年进行大笔的资本支出就可以满足季度订单的需求。

“还有很多IT管理者缺乏对云计算准确概念的基本了解，更别提如何充分利用它了。许多公司已经准备在CRM和其他市场服务中运用云计算技术，但是很多情况下，IT部门对此还浑然不知。这种无知给自己的企业制造了风险。

Protiviti 当今正在与全球许多家组织合作，帮助他们了解云计算的潜在影响，创建应对新机遇的战略反馈，决定应对风险的方针及程序。


Despite the fact that cloud computing provides opportunities for all organisations to change the way in which they provide the business with information technology solutions, almost three quarters (74%) of IT managers from across the UK think that ‘cloud computing’ is not at all relevant to their business, according to a new study by Protiviti, the leading independent risk consultancy and internal audit firm.

Jonathan Wyatt, Managing Director, Protiviti UK said: “It’s surprising that so many IT managers appear to see no value in cloud technology. The cloud takes the opportunities presented by outsourcing to the next level. Emerging technologies and cloud services provide all organisations with opportunities to change the way they operate and ultimately to improve performance whilst reducing cost.”

Currently just under one in ten (8%) IT managers surveyed said that their business is using the cloud for one or two services, while just 3% of firms have adopted it widely across the business. The companies most likely to be using cloud related services are larger companies and those operating in the Services sector. However, Protiviti noted that many organisations do not have a clear strategy for cloud computing.

According to the research, security is the biggest barrier to the widespread adoption of cloud services, followed by data privacy. Other barriers to adoption identified include concerns over reliability and availability of services and concerns over business recovery, in the event of failure of a cloud provider.

But Protiviti warns that while these areas of risk need to be taken seriously, there are significant benefits, and businesses can take advantage of the opportunities whilst managing the risks.

Jonathan Wyatt, Managing Director, Protiviti UK said: “Concerns over security and data privacy appear to be overshadowing the potential benefits offered by the cloud. Businesses need to be more creative about how they think about the cloud and the opportunities it presents. At a time when companies are looking at ways to grow whilst keeping a lid on costs, cloud computing offers a way to significantly reduce overheads and to allow supply to be more directly matched to demand.”

Protiviti’s research reveals that only three in ten firms are planning to use cloud computing over the next three years, with 16% looking to develop a private cloud service and 10% considering using a public cloud service. The remaining 2% of IT managers say that their firms are currently looking at joint venture, semi private cloud services.

Lack of skills and understanding is perhaps the most significant barrier to widespread adoption. Protiviti recently released its 2011 IT Capabilities and Needs survey, where Cloud computing and Virtualisation were identified as two of the top three areas where companies recognised a need to improve.

Jonathan Wyatt continues, “All businesses should start to experiment using the cloud in low risk areas. Software as a service, focused on non-business critical applications and platform as a service, for development and test, are good places for people to start. Experimenting in these lower risk areas can provide IT departments with immediate savings, and also enable the business to develop the competencies required to respond to new opportunities as they arise.

“We are already seeing many of our clients reaping the rewards of cloud technology by procuring additional capacity at times of high demand. For example, online retailers are now able to meet seasonal demand for orders without having to commit to a significant capital outlay to meet peak demand all year round.


“There also seems to be a fundamental lack of understanding among many IT managers as to exactly what cloud computing is, let alone how to make best use of it. Many firms will already use some form of cloud technology for CRM or other marketing services but in many cases, the IT department is unaware. Such ignorance is itself posing significant risks to the business.”


Protiviti is currently working with many organisations around the world to help them understand the potential impact of cloud computing, establish a strategic response to the potential opportunities it presents, and define policies and procedures that manage the risks associated with its use.