SMBs bag IT security benefits by using cloud: Microsoft

NEW DELHI: The small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) are increasingly bagging IT security benefits by using cloud computing, said a new Microsoft study conducted in five locations, consisting India.

The study displays that 64% of the Indian firms have witnessed higher levels of security after shifting to cloud computing. Moreover, 52% feel that they spend less time worrying about the threat of cyber attacks. Indian SMBs also spend 72% less time every week managing security than firms not using cloud computing.

Adrienne Hall, General Manager, Microsoft Trustworthy Computing, said, “There's a perception that security is a barrier to cloud adoption. Yet when companies embrace and invest in cloud services, they find the benefits far outweigh previous concerns.”

The study foung in India that 61% of SMBs that use cloud were able to employ more staff in roles that directly helped in sales or business growth, 63% invested more in product development or innovation.
Almost 52% stated that the cloud helped them to scale their business for exploring new opportunities.

Ryan Brock, vice president of Worldwide SMB Cloud & Channels at Access Markets International Partners, said, “Any solution that helps SMBs' bottom line has to be good for them and the economy. When it comes to security, the cloud offers SMBs a level of expertise, specialist resources and investment that they cannot hope to match. This translates into cost and time savings and better protection against cyber threats, which gives them the freedom to innovate and grow their business.”