CIOs get pragmatic about cloud

It would seem that pragmatism is breaking out amongst the CIO community when it comes to the acceptance of cloud as the next direction that companies should take with their IT policies, according to a new survey from specialist staff recruitment company, Robert Half Technology.

Its researches show that cost and convenience are now the factors driving UK organisations to adopt the cloud for IT systems. The CIOs surveyed report that security risks and data privacy concerns are the biggest challenges associated with cloud technology but, despite such concerns, 82 percent of them say that the economic benefits derived from moving to cloud now outweigh the potential risks involved.

More than a third, 36 percent report that the primary benefit of cloud is the ability to manage automatic software and security updates, while 35 percent say that reduced or eliminated capital expenditure is the primary benefit.  Flexibility is also a driver for adopting cloud: 33 percent of CIOs say that the ability to increase bandwidth and scale based on business demand is the main benefit, while a further 30 percent believe that enhanced remote working capabilities is key.

Perhaps one of the most interesting facets of this is the implicit expression by CIOs of the classic silo mentality where the wider issues that cloud brings into play are ignored because they are not part of the specific CIO remit. For example, the ability of cloud services bring to shorten applications lifecycles so that fast changing or short-lived market opportunities can be profitably exploited  - an ability which would have the side benefit of turning CIOs into heroes of the business management community – does not seem to register.

The biggest challenges associated with cloud are increased security risks (cited by 52 percent of CIOs), increased legal and data privacy concerns (37 percent), implications for cross-border data transfers (33 percent) and potential increased costs due to user ineffectiveness and/or excessive time wastage (28 percent). 

The risks associated with cloud have been one factor helping to drive the cloud security software market to a predicted £2.9 bn market by 2019, creating a growing requirement for IT professionals with relevant skills and experience. According to the company’s own Salary Guide, salaries for information security roles such as Information Security Manager and Information Security Officer grew by 4 percent in 2013, one of the highest rates in the sector, suggesting that demand and competition for IT security skills are on the rise.

Robert Half’s research found that while 50 percent of CIOs running IT departments which have embraced cloud have responded to the need for adequate resourcing by up-skilling existing staff, 21 percent have hired skilled interim professionals to take on the load.