Cloud Adoption Follows a Different Track

I enjoyed a deep discussion of cloud computing adoption and how it differs from previous trend lines with a 451 subscriber the other day and thought some of that conversation would be of interest to you.

451 Research's surveys and discussions with executives at end-user organizations have shown something surprising about cloud computing adoption. It is operating differently from previous cycles of technology adoption.

Past Cycles of Adoption

In the past, academic and scientific organizations adopted a new technology or approach first. This technology was picked up by large organizations and developers next as they hired graduates or worked with the academic or scientific organizations. Later the mid-tier companies adopted this technology, and finally small organizations did. Governmental organizations often adopted the technology somewhere between the mid-tier and the small organizations.

What's Different About Cloud Adoption?

This time, small organizations and governmental organizations (local, regional and some national) are moving first. Their needs for cost reduction are pushing them to move in this direction. Developers are moving right along with small organizations and governmental organizations - largely for the same reasons, needing to cut up front costs. These groups simply can't afford their current approaches to computing and have been forced to try something new.

Large and mid-tier organizations still have concerns about security and data protection, and have therefore decided to wait. What central IT decision makers don't always know is that some of their business units and departments have already moved forward with CRM, document management, collaborative applications because their needs aren't being fully addressed by the corporate solutions.