Cloud based solutions are continually increasing in popularity, and rightly so. Not only does cloud computing save you money by removing the need to purchase and maintain expensive on-site servers, but it also offers a more flexible approach to IT, enabling employees to access everything they need to work remotely, no matter where they are in the world.

According to a survey of 600 business and IT decision makers carried out by Vanson Bourne for hosting provider Savvis [source computerweekly.com*], maintaining an in-house IT infrastructure does not add any business value and 61% of respondents believe that it provides no competitive advantage.

41% of those surveyed said that lower total cost of infrastructure ownership would be the main reason for moving to cloud-based computing, and when asked what factors prevent their organisations from outsourcing all elements of their IT infrastructure, survey respondents cited company culture (43%) and sunk costs where IT assets are already paid for and owned (37%).

The survey also predicted that in-house IT solutions will drop from 90% to just 23% in 2020.

Not only will cloud computing save you cash, it will give you peace of mind as your data remains safely backed up away from your office meaning seamless continuation of service in the event of fire, flood, theft or equipment failure. If the worst happens and your company experiences disaster, you can be back up and running in no time at all.

So there we have it, cloud computing is cost effective, flexible and practicle.

 In a nutshell, it just makes good sense.

* http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2010/06/08/241479/In-house-IT-does-not-add-business-value-claims-survey.htm