Study: Kansas City moving toward the cloud, and fast

A recent study conducted by AT&T found that, while Kansas City is slower than most areas to embrace technologies, it is one of cloud computing's biggest proponents.

A recent Small Business Poll placed Kansas City 10th out of 12 surveyed when comparing wireless technology adoption rates. However, according to the surveyed business leaders in the Kansas City area, which included 100 small companies, 40 percent stated their company has adopted cloud computing and other managed IT services. This percentage represents the highest amount of any surveyed area, tying Boston for the lead among the 12 areas.

Respondents pointed toward the cloud's cost-effectiveness and elasticity when describing the reasons for their adoption.

Furthermore, 33 percent of Kansas City's respondents stated their companies use mobile technologies when away from the work place, almost double the number seen in 2008.

Like Kansas City, many other companies across several sectors have begun utilizing the cloud for IT functions. In fact, Osterman Research predicts that those companies using the cloud will further their investments by 10 percent in 2011.