Cloud computing a top newsmaker in 2010

Cloud computing made significant leaps forward 2010. That is why ITBusiness.ca recently named it the Newsmaker of the Year.

“Depending on who you ask, everyone seems to have their own definition of what cloud computing means,” wrote Maxine Cheung for the website. “The cloud as we know it today comes in many different flavors.”

Cheung cited a number of CEOs and IT experts who have pursued cloud computing in a variety of ways. Liz Herbert, principal analyst at Forrester Research, told Cheung that cloud service offerings are particularly appealing to businesses. “Businesses also move towards SaaS because they want to create a tighter link with business needs,” she said.

Security was another major cloud computing topic in 2010. The Patriot Act in the U.S., in addition to education and awareness, gave companies more confidence about moving data to the cloud.

Companies remain split on choosing between private and public clouds. In a recent survey of Canadian IT professionals and business, 36 percent of respondents said they are using private cloud environments, while 23 percent said they are using public clouds.