Cloud security a big concern for firms

RECENT data from a number of research agencies show that cloud computing has become an integral part of the IT roadmap across almost all industry verticals. A recent study by Forrester Research found that the public cloud market is expected to reach US$191 billion by 2020, up from US$58 billion in 2013. Cloud applications will likely lead this growth and is forecast to hit US$133 billion in 2020. Cloud platforms will generate US$44 billion and cloud business services will reach US$14 billion.

Despite the high mindshare, security remains a major concern for chief information officers (CIOs). There is a sense that applications and data stored in the cloud, particularly the public cloud, are not as secure as when they are stored in the company's own servers.

BizIT asked Bill Padfield, chief executive officer of Dimension Data Asia Pacific, about what he sees in the market. Dimension Data is a major IT services company in the Asia-Pacific region; it helps companies implement their cloud strategy.