Cloud computing becoming more popular

Cloud computing is becoming more popular as a "new class of outsourcing", according to an expert.

Tom Austin, head of software research at Gartner, tells ComputerWeekly that the "scaleability" of cloud computing is one of the reasons for ever-increasing uptake.

"It is a new class of outsourcing that exploits hundreds of thousands of central processing units [CPU] as a single compute engine, at a cost per CPU and per CPU cycle that is dramatically lower than you could ever do internally," the news provider quotes Mr Austin as saying.

The publication says that another benefit of cloud computing is that it alters the traditional lines of connection between physical devices and content.

It asserts that this will be more important in coming years as businesses find websites more complex to manage and need to support more forms of mobile technology, perhaps requiring them to outsource.

This week an expert said that choosing the wrong IT outsourcing firm could be "disastrous" for businesses, potentially affecting their productivity and efficiency.