Trendscape discusses cloud computing

LONDON, UK: Citing a need for better insight into core industry issues, AIIM has issued its inaugural AIIM Trendscape report titled "Content in the Cloud."

Each quarter a new Trendscape report will tackle questions surrounding important issues for senior business leaders. Today's report emphasises that business leaders are apprehensive about using cloud computing, yet at the same time they are eager to embrace the technology.

The report states that adopting cloud computing technology is seen as a way to provide support for mobile applications and devices, and help promote the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) to work philosophy.

The Trendscape is a new model designed to help senior executives set aside the hype and gain a better understanding of key issues that are driving today's business environment. Each Trendscape report will examine an important industry issue, discuss insights from AIIM's global Executive Leadership Council, and outline ideas and questions for business leaders to consider.

The Trendscape is divided into four sections that highlight priorities, potential outcomes, desired goals, outstanding issues and AIIM's recommendations for addressing the challenges identified.

Throughout the discussion about cloud computing with the ELC, it is clear that there are varying opinions on cloud computing. Corporate marketing departments have spent the past few years hyping cloud computing from multiple angles which has made it unclear what is fact and what is fiction. The AIIM ELC believes that, in order for companies to be successful, they must understand cloud computing from a business-centric perspective, not a technology-centric view.

Other key findings in the AIIM report include:

- Privacy, risk and security breaches are top of mind. It's important for IT leaders to understand country and region-specific laws and location requirements.

- Organisational risk and perceptions of risk are two different things. Ten years ago paying a bill online with a credit card was deemed risky by many people. Today, however, people don't give it a second thought.

- Vendors who develop on-premise solutions will continue to spread FUD (Fear Uncertainty and Doubt) about the downside of cloud computing.

- Cloud computing opens the door to many new challenges when it comes to integration.