Canalys voices cloud concerns

Cloud computing is still an area for concern, says Canalys

The IT industry is well placed to meet the challenges of the coming years, but needs to remain flexible and ready for change, according to analyst firm Canalys.

Steve Brazier, chief executive of Canalys, said that, despite the major issues that have affected the industry in the past two years, such as the recession and the upcoming public sector cuts, the industry remains well placed for success.

"There is a sales job that needs to be done by the IT sector to convince the public sector it can provide efficiencies and savings at a time when budgets are being cut. In the past IT schemes have been too centralised, which has led to problems," he said.

"But now it's about using small datasets and collaborating openly to allow this data to be used as and when necessary in a wider context. This is a great opportunity for SMEs to benefit from what could otherwise be a very tough time. "

Another area identified as a key challenge for the coming months is cloud computing and the issues surrounding its terminology and security.

"There's no doubt of the benefit of cloud computing for staff and customers, but there are issues regarding the nature of clouds, either public or private, that firms needs to consider, such as where data is technically held," said Brazier.

"Salesforce.com is held up as the poster child of cloud computing, but its data is all held in the US, which brings issues of data security for UK firms that need to be considered in the wider context of cloud computing."

Brazier also noted that political situations in some countries, notably China, could affect global businesses trying to set up cloud systems if issues of access and censorship became a problem.

Canalys also said that increasingly tech-savvy employees, many of whom bring new devices such as the iPad into corporate spaces, could cause problems for IT managers in the future.

"In the past IT managers have often focused on keeping things steady, not taking too many risks, but now they are forced to react and change due to events and new devices being used on their networks," said Brazier.

"There is certainly an argument that the next generation of senior IT managers will be more ready to embrace the changes facing the industry, and help IT become an integral part of a business's success."

Lastly, Brazier highlighted issues about home and mobile working that need to be worked out to ensure that companies are flexible enough to react to any events.

"Many firms that implemented mobile working didn't suffer during the adverse weather that hit the UK at the start of the year, whereas more centralised businesses, especially councils and financial firms, suffered due to more rigid network security," he said.

Canalys will be discussing the issues in detail at an event in Barcelona in September.