An increasing number of small and medium businesses (SMBs) are using cloud networking services to increase productivity, new research has revealed.
A survey of 488 of IT professionals in Europe and America, conducted by Spiceworks, found that 40% said they are using or planning to use cloud networking services in support of content filtering, DNS, remote access and security over the next year.
When asked what cloud networking services they were using, 33% said content filtering, 28% said DNS and 22% said VPN/remote access services.
The research, which analysed the use of cloud networking technologies by SMBs, said the solutions could help IT professionals reduce the time spent on tasks, improve performance and provide access to data from anywhere.
When asked which cloud networking features were important to them, 94% of respondents said security services.
Kathryn Pribish, Voice of IT program manager at Spiceworks, said while cloud servers and storage get most of the attention, cloud networking services are emerging as viable solutions for IT professionals.
"IT professionals are clear on the benefits and challenges associated with the latest services as well as the features and functionality that matter to them. Vendors who address perceived challenges have a unique opportunity to capitalise on this growing space."
Todd Krautkremer, VP of marketing at Pertino, added: "A new reality is settling in on IT organisations, especially SMBs: employees are more productive when they are allowed to work when, where and on the devices they want. This represents new challenge to IT professionals and dramatically changes the traditional business network landscape,"
Spiceworks released an updated version of its free social network and IT management software, Spiceworks 6, for SMBs in July 2012.
