(MENAFN- Jordan Times) The use of cloud computing by the public and the private sectors in Jordan is still is "below" desired levels, an IT expert said on Monday, amid calls for increasing adoption of the technology to cut costs.
"The number of companies in the private sector resorting to cloud computing is rising gradually, but adoption of this technology should be faster, as it can improve work performance significantly," the expert, who preferred anonymity, told The Jordan Times.
The government is increasing reliance on cloud computing and is planning to build its own "private cloud" in the near future, according to the National Information Technology Centre.
Cloud computing plays an essential role in reducing costs, which 70 per cent of businesses worldwide said tops their priorities during the current "difficult" economic condition.
During Cisco Live 2012 held in San Diego, California last week, Cisco Chairman and CEO John Chambers said cloud computing is a key for businesses in different sectors at this stage.
"This technology is a main drive for more productivity and to solve business problems," Chambers told a crowd of about 17,000 security networking and IT experts from across the world during the event.
Cloud computing includes the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage and process data, rather than a local server or personal computer, according to web sources.
The web-based computing helps businesses reduce IT spending, focus on innovation and enhance employees' productivity, especially if they are allowed to use their own devices for accessing work-related databases.
In his speech at Cisco Live 2012, which attracted a virtual audience of more than 120,000, Chambers noted that allowing employees to use their own devices (tablets, smartphones and laptops) for conducting work plays a key role in enhancing their productivity.
"Bringing technologies together can change a country, a business - that is basic power of the Internet," he said, stressing the importance of connecting workers to their businesses' database to conduct work in today's world.
Around 76 per cent of IT leaders in Jordan labelled allowing employees to use their own devices for work as "somewhat or extremely positive" for their companies, a recent report by Cisco indicated.
"The top two perceived benefits of allowing employees to use their personal devices for work-related activities were improved employee productivity (more opportunities to collaborate) and greater job satisfaction, according to the report.
OJ Winge, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco's Collaboration Endpoints Technology Group, agreed.
"What used to be called a workplace is no more a workplace" nowadays, a workplace is mobile as cloud computing enables workers to work from wherever they are," Winge said during a meeting on the sidelines of Cisco Live 2012.
"By adopting the cloud technology, it is easier for employees in different sectors to work at anytime they want and this is convenient for both employees and employers," he noted.
Businesses, however, have concerns about adopting cloud technology, according to Praveen Akkiraju, senior vice president and general manager, Cisco Services Routing Technology Group.
"Businesses fear that by moving their work and databases to the cloud they might be victims of cyber attacks and this is a major challenge facing the adoption of this technology," Akkiraju said.
"Businesses feel they do not have control over their database once moved to the cloud, but the cloud technology is effective in protecting business from cyber attacks," he added during the conference.
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