Core Facts
Cloud enablement leader, Parallels (www.parallels.com) today released the results of recent research that indicates over eight in ten (84%) respondents believe APAC small businesses are likely to adopt Cloud computing services in the next three years. The research was conducted amongst delegates at the recent Parallels APAC Summit in Singapore. Attendees unanimously agreed that Cloud computing is set to transform IT operations for small businesses in APAC.
Almost three quarters of those surveyed (68%) agreed that Cloud computing will be an influential factor in driving efficiency and profitability amongst small businesses in APAC in the next 12 months. When asked about the specific benefits that the Cloud has to offer, 69% agreed that scalable flexibility is the biggest advantage that Cloud services can bring to small business IT, while 60% cite cost reduction as a key factor in the uptake of Cloud computing.
While the focus fell on driving efficiency through service automation at the vendor level, participants of the Summit were keen to discuss which Cloud services are likely to take off fastest amongst small businesses in APAC. While over half (52%) of respondents agreed that Virtualised Infrastructure services will fuel adoption of Cloud computing, 44% believed that Shared Web Hosting services will also prove a hit with small businesses in the region. Messaging and collaboration applications are also likely to gain traction in coming months, according to 42% of delegates.
In accordance with the speakers and panelists at the Summit, seven out of ten respondents (70%) agreed that small businesses should choose the public Cloud over the private Cloud because it reduces the need for dedicated IT support, and 40% reiterated the benefits of cost savings that the public Cloud can bring to the small business sector. In addition, over one third (36%) of respondents believed that there is a much wider range of applications available in the public Cloud.
Speakers at the Summit included executives from Microsoft, Go Daddy, VeriSign and Open-Xchange, covering topics as diverse as the standardisation of Cloud services across markets, security, and growth strategies for Cloud Service Providers targeting the small business market that will help them profit from the Cloud. The Saturday panel discussion featuring speakers from PacHosting, Webvisions, Directi, AussieHQ and Tsukaeru.net further explored Cloud strategy including the need to compete in a niche market versus the advantages of providing a full service portfolio.
Quotes
“We were absolutely thrilled to welcome some of the region’s brightest minds to participate in this year’s APAC Summit, and with over 300 delegates in attendance from Singapore, Malaysia, China, Australia, India and Japan, we felt a huge buzz of excitement regarding the future of the Cloud services industry in Asia,” said Jan-Jaap Jager, Vice President and General Manager APAC, Parallels.
He continues: “All signs point towards the expansion of the market in this region. For example, Go Daddy took an important step by underscoring its expansion into Asia with the announcement of a new data centre in Singapore, and analysts from Tier1 Research, IDC and Springboard pointed to evolving market models including the entrance of telcos into the Cloud space.”
Anthony Banek, General Manager of Cloud Services at OzHosting.com, says: “For me, one of the best parts of the Summit was networking with the other vendors. Many of the vendors we work with are based overseas, meaning the Parallels APAC Summit is the only opportunity we have to meet everyone in person and learn from their experiences first-hand. This is a must-attend event for Cloud Service Providers in Asia, particularly for those who already use the Parallels platform or aim to use it in the future. We look forward to attending another successful event next year!”
Parallels is a global leader in virtualization and automation software that optimizes computing for consumers, businesses, and Cloud services providers across all major hardware, operating systems, and virtualization platforms. Founded in 1999, Parallels is a fast-growing company with more than 700 employees in North America, Europe, and Asia. For more information, please visit www.parallels.com.
Contacts
Caroline La Rose
caroline.larose@bitecommunications.com