NTT Com Security Survey Reveals Mature Cloud Adopters Consider Cloud More Secure, Cost-Effective And Flexible Than Data Center Deployment

PRESS RELEASE

Bloomfield, CT –September 30, 2013 –NTT Com Security (formerly Integralis) the power behind WideAngle, the global information security and risk management brand, has found that when faced with financial, security, skills, or business agility pressures, mature cloud adopters are much more likely to remain committed to the cloud than to deploy applications and services in traditional data centers.

The findings are a key part of a global survey of 700 CTOs, IT directors and technical decision makers at organizations of 500+ employees, conducted to better understand how maturity of adoption affects organizations' degree of trust and enthusiasm for cloud services.

"Although Cloud technology is still maturing, attitudes among IT professionals rapidly become more positive in every aspect once businesses have had time to evaluate the many benefits of private, public or hybrid cloud deployment for themselves," explained Garry Sidaway, Global Director of Security Strategy at NTT Com Security.

"More than half of all respondents (55%), and 70% of advanced cloud adopters, now realize that the cloud offers greater agility than the data center, but only the more experienced adopters have learned to also value the security, cost and simplicity benefits of the cloud. This reflects a disparity between operational and board-level discussions prior to cloud adoption – until it has positively impacted the whole business, board-level objectives revolve largely around agility alone. Ultimately however, those companies assured enough to adopt the cloud for its agile deployment advantages, also benefit from the enhanced security of critical applications, lower operational costs and intuitive usability - it's a win-win situation."

Only 8% of companies surveyed could be considered 'advanced in cloud adoption', having adopted the cloud across all or most of their departments. In the case of these cloud adopters, 61% said that they favored the cloud for security and cost critical deployments, 67% for its more accessible skill demands, while 70% of this group said they'd opt for cloud-based deployment when business agility was critical.

The survey also found that 70% of companies have seen financial benefit due to the widespread adoption of cloud. Across the industry as a whole, 30% of IT budget is dedicated to cloud computing. Every company surveyed uses some form of cloud computing outside of the IT department, with 11% of companies having already replaced traditional data centers with the cloud. An encouraging 45% of all respondents believe that cloud computing will eventually replace traditional data centers completely.

Sidaway concluded: "Globally cloud adoption seems to be based on how quickly issues such as security and cost can be reconciled. Once businesses have the right policies in place, they rapidly advance the number of services and applications delivered via the cloud model. Whatever stage businesses are at, security of cloud deployment is recognized as playing an increasingly important role as they seek to move into new territories and be competitive on the global stage."

About the survey

Research methodology: NTT Com Security (formerly Integralis) commissioned market research company, Vanson Bourne to conduct independent research among 700 IT decision makers at organizations of 500+ employees in the USA/Canada, UK, Germany, Nordics, Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong in May and June 2013. The research was conducted online and by telephone in the public and private sectors across organizations in finance, retail, pharmaceutical, telecommunications, utilities, petrochemicals and healthcare.

About NTT Com Security (formerly Integralis)

NTT Com Security (formerly Integralis) is the power behind WideAngle, a global information security and risk management brand. WideAngle delivers a portfolio of managed security, business infrastructure, consulting and technology integration services. WideAngle helps organizations lower their IT costs and increase the depth of IT security protection, risk management, compliance and service availability. NTT Com Security AG, is headquartered in Ismaning, Germany and part of the NTT Communications Group, owned by NTT (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation), one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world. For more information, visit http://www.nttcomsecurity.com