Analysts TechMarketReview has revealed that Cloud computing will be worth £2.4bn this year, and is projected to be worth £10.4bn in 2014. This is what analysts refer to as the first wave of Cloud adoption, with the second wave, the move into private clouds. The third wave will see a migration into the public cloud, expected to transpire in the next five years.

Chris Papa, Managing Director for communications specialist and Cloud computing company Qubic, said “I predict that the coming year will see a movement towards Cloud technology as businesses become more aware of its advantages, namely the balance between cost and savings. Despite the trend companies still need to assess the benefits in accordance with their individual requirements and businesses will need to decide when Cloud is cost-effective, and when it is not. This should be assessed in partnership with a trusted supplier and although some will take the plunge into Cloud computing others will wait. Either way by 2013 I expect to see a greater movement towards Cloud technologies.”

Cloud computing is not a new technology; it has developed in recent years and is now a popular solution to most businesses. Companies no longer want the hassle of managing and updating their software. Cloud computing has given companies access to the latest software, with the freedom to rent the latest technology as and when they need it. The flexibility Cloud offers has been a driving factor behind the adoption of Cloud in the past, however this year significantly more businesses have recognised the financial benefits of outsourcing their IT needs.

Papa continued, “With clean-tech market intelligence Pike Research revealing that the adoption of Cloud computing could lead to a 38 percent reduction in energy usage in the world's data centers by 2020, additional Cloud take-up will be driven by a need to focus on green issues.”