Cloud computing 'provides massive cost advantages'

IT departments at UK-based companies are increasingly recognising the "massive advantages" of adopting cloud computing solutions, according to chief executive of icomplete.com Stuart Hibbert.

He believes the technology has enabled senior IT experts and managers to focus on their work without having to hold lengthy company meetings all the time.

As well as driving down administration costs, cloud computing has also allowed smaller companies to become more competitive, Mr Hibbert added.

Indeed, he feels that cloud migration has levelled the playing field as less established firms now have better access to "big business tools".

"The learning curve [when adopting cloud computing] tends to be relatively short, so small businesses are enabled to compete with large businesses much more quickly and easily," he commented.

Gartner recently predicted that global spending on new IT systems would increase in 2012, with much of the extra money being spent on cloud computing and virtualisation technology.