A study courtesy of cloud services provider Redcentric has revealed 41% of a pool of UK businesses and organisations are only just taking their first steps into cloud computing and cloud technology, despite the many cloud services available.

The study, performed by technology market research firm Vanson Bourne, also revealed only 15% of the 200 IT managers surveyed were cautious, or cynical, about implementing Cloud technology. The majority (50%) viewed the uptake of at least one form of Cloud computing as the natural progression for their business. Cloud computing often offers a fast and flexible way to access files, communicate with co-workers and customers, and backup company data. For this reason, the Cloud can often allow small businesses to expand.

From the study, the preferred Cloud computing model for businesses appeared to be a “hybrid” model, with a business using some cloud solutions and some traditional solutions. Only 8% of responders in the study said they planned to use for everything – while even less (2%) said they intended to not use the Cloud at all.

There are many ways to take advantage of the Cloud systems. One way many users use the Cloud is through Cloud storage applications such as Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive. These are available free for personal use, with paid plans offering significant amounts of space for businesses. Many businesses also make use of hosted desktop services. The hosted desktop services provided by Midland Networks can allow your employees to access their files even when they are away from the office, and offer faster speeds at lower costs. Our hosted desktop service also comes with dedicated support and data backup, saving money on in-house IT services.