The perceived advantages of cloud computing for SMEs

Abstract

As a new generation of network computing, cloud computing offers many advantages to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This paper identifies from the literature the six main benefits of cloud computing vs traditional network computing: Security effectiveness, meeting needs of the organisation, reliability, cost effectiveness, flexibility and scalability. Data from 410 SMEs in Malaysia was collected and analysed. The results show that SMEs most favourably view the scalability, security and flexibility aspects of cloud computing. The study helps build an understanding of the factors which influence SMEs decision makers to transfer their traditional services to new generation of network computing with concomitant benefits for ecommerce.