UK public sector 'moving to cloud computing'

Cloud computing is set for an increase in popularity among public sector organisations as they search for new ways to become more efficient, new research has shown.

A study by research firm Ovum revealed the range of technologies, which include VoIP solutions, could come to the fore as cost-cutting becomes a priority as a result of government spending cuts.

Ovum analyst Jessica Hawkins, who wrote the report, said she expected to see "consumption-based and shared delivery models gaining momentum in 2011, as agencies become more open to the efficiencies that a cloud-based approach can offer".

Another area that could see an increase in demand is outsourcing, Ms Hawkins continued, especially with regards to back-office functions.

Many bodies will seek advice from their IT partners on how best to proceed and those vendors should, in turn, be ready to give that guidance where necessary, she added.

More than 80 per cent of US and European businesses have implemented at least one cloud service, with cost-cutting the biggest incentive for doing so, CA Technologies recently stated.