The Growing Cloud-Computing Market for SMBs

The results from a Zoomerang survey taken previously this year found that many small and medium-sized business owners are confused about cloud computing, what the term means, and what the innovation could mean to them. Exactly, the survey found this trajectory for the SMB market on cloud computing:

Cloud conversion

Only another 2 percent of those surveyed are actively planning a cloud conversion, doing so for data storage, email and customer service. The cloud services market at the end of 2010 for small and medium-sized businesses at $8.6 billion, which included hosted infrastructure, web hosting, and collaboration. Small businesses were the foundation of this market, accounting for over 80 percent of the total market spending.

With cloud services, small businesses reap the benefits of not having to deploy a physical infrastructure like file and email servers, storage systems or shrink-wrapped software. This means less time and money is spent managing the research. Plus, the “anywhere, anytime” availability of these solutions, means hassle-free collaboration between business partners and employees by simply using a Internet browser. A lot of small business needs can be met with cloud computing services, if the information just gets out there on what this research is and how to take advantage of it.

The proper knowledge

With the proper knowledge and education on cloud research, 20 percent of decision-makers stated in an eWeek.com survey that they were "likely" or "very likely" to implement a cloud computing solution in the then 12 months, during almost 10 percent were "likely" or "very likely" to implement in the straightway three months, according to those survey results. These survey results demonstrate the cloud computing market for SMBs is a growing one, and that SMB owners are interested.

If you're one of the few interested in cloud computing services, make sure to ask yourself these six questions earlier making the leap. Cloud computing can be used for a variety of services, just as productivity, accounting, and communication, should the contingency arise to those mentioned above. The number of services will only increase as more and more companies begin to offer services on the cloud. It's understandable if you're hesitant to move your entire operations to the cloud. Fortunately, with cloud computing, you have the option to have only some things moved to the cloud, like virus protection, web hosting, or data backup. Just about anything can be done on the cloud, so in this growing cloud-computing market, any need for your small business can be met with cloud-computing services.

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