The results of a new study surprised many tech industry analysts, showing that almost half of all small businesses are not using cloud storage.
This fact is surprising because smaller businesses can greatly benefit from the cost-savings associated with cloud computing, since it does not require on-premise hardware or local IT staff to manage.
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Of the small businesses that do use cloud storage, the majority use Dropbox, reveals the report created by Clutch; a business ratings and reviews group. Clutch surveyed 438 small businesses across the United States.
Following Dropbox, Google Drive, Apple iCloud, Microsoft, and OneDrive were the next most-used cloud storage services. Apple iCloud was the service small businesses were satisfied with most, as it received the highest Net Promoter Score (NPS), a standard measure of customer satisfaction and loyalty.
User reviews on Clutch’s site, also rate Apple’s iCloud very highly, a 4.7 out of 5 stars. One user praised the service with, “Apple iCloud has worked well and we feel very confident in the fact that our files will not be compromised. After switching, we now have more space to store our files. And everything is backed up, which is a bonus. It is great!”
One expert chalked up the less-than-expected adoption rates by small businesses of cloud storage, to a lack of awareness about its benefits.
“Yes, cloud storage has been around for a while, but there are still many people who do not know the full scope of what can be done with it,†said David Amaya, a consultant at Cardinal Solutions and Cloud thought leader, in an interview with Clutch. “Security and compliance concerns hold many back from adopting the Cloud. As small businesses become more aware of what is possible and how the Cloud addresses these concerns, the number using the Cloud will continue to increase.”