Gartner is just loving cloud computing at the moment. The analyst has released quite a bit of information about the potential for cloud-based services during the last couple of weeks.

Today's slab of research from Gartner suggests security applications delivered through the cloud will have a 'dramatic impact' on the industry:

• In messaging security controls, such as malware and spam detection/exclusion for e-mail and instant messaging, cloud-based services account for 20 per cent of revenue in 2008
• By 2013, cloud-based services in messaging security controls will account for 60 per cent of revenue

Gartner says the increased use of cloud-based services, such as salesforce.com or Google Apps, means users will be accessing data without traversing the corporate network - and will increase the need for security controls between users and the cloud, says Gartner principal analyst Kelly Kavanagh:

"It also will allow security technologies and techniques that are cost-effective to be used only with cloud-style computing. The massively scalable resources provided through the cloud also will be available to people who develop attacks that require intense processing, pursue cloud providers, or both."

Further reading

• Cloud computing will change business technology
• Simon Pitt to lead IT at the Environment Agency
• CIO concerns: Rob Fraser switches Boots for CSC
• CIOs will need to transform to survive
• Career moves: Robin Terrell is John Lewis web MD
• Modernise to beat IT and skills obsolesence

Want to subscribe to this blog? Click here for the options

Want to contact the writer? Email Mark Samuels