Cloud buyers think differently after NSA revelations

Global survey finds that companies are thinking about changing their data-handling practices

Most IT decision makers around the globe asked by NTT have said they are rethinking cloud as a result of the Snowden NSA leaks.

NTT Communications had 1,000 respondents to a recent Vanson Bourne poll - 200 firms based in the UK, 200 in Germany, 200 in France, 300 in the US, and 100 from Hong Kong.

According to the Hong Kong-based telecoms giant, 88 per cent of respondents said they are changing their cloud-computing buying behaviour.

Len Padilla, vice president of product strategy at NTT Europe, said the findings suggest that the NSA allegations have hardened ICT decision-maker attitudes towards cloud computing.

"This is whether it is in modifying procurement policies, scrutinising potential suppliers or taking a heightened interest in where their data is stored," Padilla (pictured, right) said.

Thirty-eight per cent of those polled indicated they are amending their procurement conditions for cloud providers, while thirty-one per cent said they are moving data to locations "where the business knows it will be safe".

Only five per cent indicated location was unimportant.

Sixty-two per cent of those surveyed that were not currently using cloud said the NSA revelations had put them off moving their IT into the cloud.

Sixteen per cent claimed to be delaying or even cancelling cloud provision contracts.

However, Padilla said business needs to remember that cloud platforms can and do help firms become more agile and innovative.

"There is optimism that the industry can solve these issues through restricting data movement and encryption of data," he said.

According ot the survey, IT decision makers that responded now prefer cloud services located in their own region, especially EU and US companies.

Eighty-two per cent of all survey respondents said they agree with German chancellor Angela Merkel's proposal for separating data networks around the globe.

About 52 per cent of those surveyed said they were doing more due diligence on cloud providers as a result of the NSA revelations.

Eighty-four per cent indicated they feel they need more training on data protection laws.

To scrutinise the NTT survey, NSA Aftershocks: How Snowden has changed IT decision makers' approach to the cloud, see www.nsaaftershocks.com.