Research ETRM / CTRM in the Cloud | Page 11

CTRM in the Cloud Results Our respondents’ perceptions of the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of SaaS and the cloud present rather a mixed bag. On a positive note, many agreed that it meant reduced maintenance headaches (52% of respondents) and more cost effective delivery and ownership; however, a slight majority (52%) also felt that such deployments also brought with them security issues. They felt less strongly about other characteristics of SaaS and the cloud however, with 34% agreeing with the observation that mainstream business applications are now delivered in the cloud. Less than a third of the respondents agreed that there were issues related to “loss of control” and technical integration with SaaS and the cloud. About 21% felt that improved backup and recovery was a benefit. A relatively small number of respondents, 15%, felt these deployment methods led to a loss of business agility, and even less (fewer than 10%) believed these types of implementations were generally only for smaller companies. An even smaller number felt SaaS is just another technology fad that will eventually fade away (Figure 3). Figure 3: Perceptions of SaaS and the Cloud Risk of data loss if vendor insolvent Too specific requirements for TRM Convincing risk officers internally Unknown cost inflation risk Don't know what SaaS is Another technology fad For smaller companies Loss of business agility Better back up and recovery Integration problems Loss of control Mainstream business applications are delivered in the cloud Cost effective delivery and ownership Security issues Reduced maintenance headaches 0% Overall, the respondents seemed to have a balanced view of SaaS and the cloud, finding both positives and negatives, but not harboring overly strong feelings about any of them. Clearly, the largest benefits are seen to be around reduced costs and reduced maintenance headaches; and the biggest pitfall to be related to security. 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% Figure 4: Perceptions of the Cloud 0% 7% Very Positive 5% 10% Positive No opinion either way Negative 32% 46% Very Negative Don't know This observation is strengthened by the generally favorable view of SaaS and the cloud among the survey respondents. More than half Figure 5: How Perception Has Changed had positive views, around a third had no opinion either way and only 7% had a negative opinion of SaaS and the cloud (Figure 4). The 7% Better overall impression of SaaS and the cloud has Worse improved over the last two years with 63% 30% stating that their opinions had improved and Same 63% none saying their opinions had worsened over 0% Don't know the period (Figure 5). To some extent, this is almost certainly due to the increasing familiarity and growing acceptance of the cloud and SaaS delivery models in other areas of business and personal use (such as banking applications for example). This has © Commodity Technology Advisory LLC, 2014, All Rights Reserved. 11