Cloud remains a mystery to some business owners

According to a new study, many companies best suited for cloud computing simply lack knowledge of the platform.

Of the 1,8000 organizations surveyed by Newtek, most fell into the category of a small-and medium-sized business. A majority of 71 percent of respondents claimed they have never heard of the cloud and currently had no plans to migrate applications and data to the platform.

“Business owners will need to understand what the cloud is and what it can do for their businesses in the areas of cost control, data security, data protection, accessibility, efficiency and productivity to facilitate a smooth running technological platform for their business,” said Barry Sloane, president and CEO of Newtek.

Experts say that SMBs need to make the most of limited resources, therefore making the cloud an acceptable option as owners look for new ways to reduce operating expenses.

However, there are competing views on SMB cloud adoption that offer more positive predictions. A recent study by Microsoft found that four in 10 businesses will deploy the platform and much of this growth will be attributed to smaller companies.