The majority of IT departments now use cloud-based applications, with users reporting better security and lower costs, according to research commissioned by Mimecast.

Mimecast, a cloud email provider, commissioned Loudhouse Research to survey 500 IT decision makers at US and UK firms. The survey found that the majority of organisations (51%) are now using some form of cloud computing service, and that levels of satisfaction amongst those companies was high across the board. 

Conversely, companies not yet using cloud services cited concerns around cost and security.

Of those businesses using cloud services, 74% said that the cloud had alleviated internal resource pressures, and 72% reported an improved end-user experience.
In addition, 73% had managed to reduce their infrastructure costs, while 57% said the cloud had resulted in improved security. 

However, not everyone was convinced, with 74% of IT departments surveyed still believing that there is always a trade-off between cost and IT security, and 62% saying that storing data on servers outside of the business is always a risk.

Peter Bauer, CEO of Mimecast, said, “While those organisations that have embraced cloud services are clearly reaping the rewards, there are still a number who are put off by data security concerns. It is now up to cloud vendors to educate businesses to ensure that these concerns do not overshadow the huge potential cost, security and performance benefits that cloud computing can bring.”