Study: Companies under-utilizing cloud services

Despite the widespread adoption of managed cloud services, many companies are still under-utilizing cloud computing technology, according to a recent study conducted by Osterman Research.

The study surveyed approximately 100 senior-level software development professionals, including vice presidents, CIOs and directors. Approximately 52 percent of respondents indicated that their companies have cloud infrastructure resources that are rarely or never used.

Forty-seven percent of respondents reported that their companies' resources have excess capacity.

Michael Osterman, founder of Osterman Research, said the research suggests cloud computing is "increasingly an essential component of many organizations' computing resources, and it will become more important in the future."

The study found approximately 48 percent of companies either use private cloud services or intend to do so, while 20 percent are currently using public cloud computing.

According to a recent study conducted by InformationWeek, the number of companies utilizing cloud services increased by 67 percent in 2010. The same study found approximately 29 percent of companies that have implemented cloud computing are yet to evaluate the impact of cloud technology on their IT infrastructures.