So many vendor-commissioned studies on mattersinformation technology, so little time. In a new semi-regular feature, we offera round-up of some of the recent pieces of IT-related research reports thathave found their way into our inbox.
Rootcanal or cloud migration?
A global report commissioned by networking vendorCisco Systems shows businesses are a long ways from turned cloud computing hypeinto reality. Having a proper cloud migration strategy is the stumbling blockand 38 per cent of IT decision makers said without one, they’d rather get a rootcanal, dig a ditch, or do their own taxes than address network challengesassociated with public or private cloud deployments.
Unsurprisingly, Cisco found that the network is oneof the top focus areas for cloud migration. In order to successfully move moreapplications to the cloud, the majority of respondents cited a cloud-readynetwork (37 per cent) as the biggest infrastructure element required forfurther cloud deployments, ahead of a virtualized data center (28 per cent) ora service-level agreement from a cloud service provider (21 per cent).
On a more positive note, 73 per cent of respondentsfelt confident with enough information to begin their private or public cloud deployments.But in a clear sign that many IT organizations are still considering and planningcloud migrations, 24 per cent said that over the next six months, they’re morelikely to see a UFO, a unicorn or a ghost before they see their company's cloudmigration starting and finishing.
The complete survey finds are available online.
SMBslike VMware, says VMware
A Spiceworks report commissioned by virtualizationvendor VMware to investigate desktop virtualization industry trends among SMBsfound hat 60 per cent of respondents plan to roll out or evaluate desktopvirtualization in 2012, with VMware View as the leading choice.
The study found 53 per cent of desktop SMBvirtualization installations were deployed using VMware View, with Citrix at 27per cent and another three per cent accounted for by Kaviza (recently acquiredby Citrix). Other vendors accounted for eight per cent or less individually.
In other findings, 88 per cent said they’dimplement an on-premise solution if they move to desktop virtualization andcloud computing, while 12 per cent would consider a hosted virtual desktopoffering. Maintenance of security and compliance and lack of people/resources werecited as the two biggest challenges SMBs face in managing end users.
A related whitepaper (PDF) is available fordownload.
Workplacestress, and why tablet users have more fun (and stress)
Toshiba of Canada wanted to know what stresses-outCanadians at work. And what do you know, the survey of 1000 Canadians found malfunctioningtechnology is their number one office complaint.
Some 62 per cent of Canadians find their jobsstressful, and technology was cited as the top contributing factor. Accordingto 52 per cent of respondents, dealing with malfunctioning office technologytakes away from other work responsibilities, while 25 per cent have missed adeadline due to a technology failure and 57 per cent believe that their bosswould accept a technology failure as a legitimate excuse for a missed deadline.
Tablet users claimed more workplace stress (86 percent) compared to 68 per cent of laptop users and 57 per cent of desktop users.Tablet users were also three times as more likely to yell at their colleagueswhen stressed at work, and 27 per cent of tablet users have had an officeromance, compared to the national average of 15 per cent.