Cloud Computing, Virtualization and Mobility Help Midsize Firms Grow

Grazed from Midsize Insider. Author: Marissa Tejada.

Cloud computing is being embraced by an increasing number of midsize firms, according to a new study. The researchers from Spiceworks, Inc. found that, in addition to the cloud, two other third-platform technologies, virtualization and mobility, are what midsize firms are using to increase productivity and to meet their business goals.

More Cloud to Go Around

The new report, "State of SMB IT 1H 2013," featured in ChannelPro SMB, took into account the responses of IT departments with fewer than 1,000 employees. The semiannual study found that employees at these smaller firms used more cloud services compared to larger firms. Virtualization grew as well; more than 80 percent of firms with 250 to 999 employees have adopted virtualization technology. As for mobility, tablets are ruling the roost at midsize firms; almost 60 percent of IT professionals said that they have tablets in their networks. Researchers expect that the percentage will grow, with 70 percent of midsize firms adopting tablet use by the end of 2013…

The Third Platform Booms

Spiceworks’ recent findings point to the importance of third-platform technologies and the big difference that they are making in the midsize market. Third-platform technologies include mobile, apps, the cloud, big data, social business and big data analytics. The consumerization of IT and the rise of mobility are helping to push this growth. Smartphones, tablets and phablets are a major part of everyday life, and they have made it into the corporate world via the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trend. As a result, the pace of business is faster than ever in the midst of the convergence of these powerful game-changing technologies. Employees can work from anywhere and at any time. Thanks to the cloud, virtualization and more, smaller firms are more profitable and productive and are reaching new levels of competitiveness…

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