Cloud Computing Hangs Above Digital Transformation To-Do Lists

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When it comes to kicking their digital transformation initiatives into high gear, a majority of technology leaders are increasingly looking to the cloud.

A new survey from Ping Identity, conducted by Regina Corso Consulting, reveals that 86 percent of IT decision makers consider cloud adoption an important part of their organization’s digital transformation efforts. Eighty-one percent consider transitioning IT infrastructure to the cloud a top priority for most businesses and 83 percent said the move should be a board-level concern.

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In terms of actually taking steps to toward cloud-enabled IT operations, many businesses are dragging their feet.

Less than ten percent of enterprises have completed a full cloud migration and just half have begun the transfer to private or public cloud infrastructures, indicate the results. Regina Corso Consulting quizzed 200 IT decision makers in the U.S., France, Germany and the U.K.

Other digital transformation priorities include mobile apps for employees and customers, replacing legacy software with software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings and providing consistent customer experiences that span various channels and devices.

Naturally, data security is another top concern. Security was considered a “very important” factor in successfully going through the digital transformation process by 91 percent of respondents. Half said security was the “most important” factor.

Moving to the cloud is causing many organizations to strengthen their defenses. Sixty-seven percent admitted to purchasing more security solutions in the wake of adopting the cloud. Most IT leaders (82 percent) said that maintaining a secure environment has become more of a challenge after moving to the cloud.

Relatedly, most respondents (90 percent) consider identity and access management technologies critical to digital transformation success. Senior leaders consider identity solutions a critical cloud adoption enabler (84 percent) and a mobility booster (89 percent), underscoring the importance of managing and monitoring user access to an organization’s sensitive data.

“Above cloud, mobile and IoT, enterprises view security and Identity and Access Management as the make-or-break factors for winning in the digital economy,” said Andre Durand, CEO of Ping Identity, in a statement. “This research illuminates how a company’s ability to succeed at everything from delivering personal, convenient and trusted mobile customer experiences to moving infrastructure to the more cost-efficient cloud hinges on having the right security measures in place, including secure access for employees, partners and customers.”

Pedro Hernandez is a contributing editor at InfoStor. Follow him on Twitter @ecoINSITE.