ISACA survey reveals power struggle over cloud computing

That's chief among findings just release by global IT professionals organisation ISACA, which conducted research among 4,500 senior IT people across 83 countries. Commenting its 2012 IT Risk/Reward Barometer report, Marc Vael, international vice president of ISACA, says: "What is apparent from this study is the perception of control. Private cloud scores better than both public and hybrid cloud, when asked if the benefit outweighs the risk, yet take up is still relatively low." And he adds: "My thought is that enterprises are facing a similar dilemma as they did when first contemplating outsourcing. It is the psychology of relinquishing control that needs to be addressed." Vael believes that is why there is more faith in private cloud services, where the business retains management over both hybrid and public alternatives, "However, this solution offers less advantages," he warns. ISACA's 2012 IT Risk/Reward Barometer suggests that the drivers behind cloud computing are primarily business related – with lowering costs, increasing efficiency and accessibility, and introducing scalability, all regularly cited by respondents. However, looking at the cons to cloud adoption, data security, compliance implications, and even uncertainty over its future, figure highly. That said, the report also finds that an average of nearly 25% of respondents across all regions are now using private cloud computing for mission-critical services. However, in Europe, 68% of respondents now believe the risk posed by public cloud services currently outweigh the benefits, while on private cloud services 58% believe the benefit outweighs the risk. "Over the next 12 months, I am hopeful that we will witness an evolution in awareness of the various cloud options, and the benefits each will bring," says Vael. "This is paramount if we are to bridge the gap between realising the business drivers to its adoption, balanced by the risk introduced from a security perspective."