Research ETRM / CTRM in the Cloud | Page 11

CTRM in the Cloud

Results
Our respondents’ perceptions of the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of SaaS and the cloud
present rather a mixed bag. On a positive note, many agreed that it meant reduced maintenance headaches
(52% of respondents) and more cost effective delivery and ownership; however, a slight majority (52%) also felt
that such deployments also brought with them security issues. They felt less strongly about other characteristics
of SaaS and the cloud however, with 34% agreeing with the observation that mainstream business applications
are now delivered in the cloud. Less than a third of the respondents agreed that there were issues related to
“loss of control” and technical integration with SaaS and the cloud. About 21% felt that improved backup and
recovery was a benefit. A relatively small number of respondents, 15%, felt these deployment methods led to a
loss of business agility, and even less (fewer than 10%) believed these types of implementations were generally
only for smaller companies. An even smaller number felt SaaS is just another technology fad that will eventually
fade away (Figure 3).
Figure 3: Perceptions of SaaS and the Cloud
Risk of data loss if vendor insolvent
Too specific requirements for TRM
Convincing risk officers internally
Unknown cost inflation risk
Don't know what SaaS is
Another technology fad
For smaller companies
Loss of business agility
Better back up and recovery
Integration problems
Loss of control
Mainstream business applications are delivered in the cloud
Cost effective delivery and ownership
Security issues
Reduced maintenance headaches
0%

Overall, the respondents seemed to have a
balanced view of SaaS and the cloud, finding
both positives and negatives, but not harboring
overly strong feelings about any of them.
Clearly, the largest benefits are seen to be
around reduced costs and reduced maintenance
headaches; and the biggest pitfall to be related
to security.

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Figure 4: Perceptions of the Cloud
0%
7%

Very Positive

5% 10%

Positive
No opinion either way
Negative

32%
46%

Very Negative
Don't know

This observation is strengthened by the
generally favorable view of SaaS and the cloud
among the survey respondents. More than half
Figure 5: How Perception Has Changed
had positive views, around a third had no
opinion either way and only 7% had a negative
opinion of SaaS and the cloud (Figure 4). The
7%
Better
overall impression of SaaS and the cloud has
Worse
improved over the last two years with 63%
30%
stating that their opinions had improved and
Same
63%
none saying their opinions had worsened over
0%
Don't know
the period (Figure 5). To some extent, this is
almost certainly due to the increasing familiarity
and growing acceptance of the cloud and SaaS
delivery models in other areas of business and personal use (such as banking applications for example). This has

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