May/June 19 - ChannelVision Magazine

At the same time, more than 23 per- cent of companies have indicated they will need third-party assistance to overcome cloud security, compliance and operational challenges – present- ing a lucrative opportunity for interna- tional agents that can connect the dots and arrange partnerships. For example, we’re just a year into the EU’s General Data Protection Reg- ulation (GDPR). Companies are still adjusting to the new consumer privacy landscape and determining plans for moving forward with their cloud initiatives. In some cases, GDPR is delaying cloud deployments. At this point, agents should be keeping a sharp lookout for opportuni- ties to push cloud discussions forward – asking questions, taking notes and waiting for the right time to pounce. First things first, though: What’s driving cloud adoption? The Cloud: Synonymous With Innovation In a recent study from Mitel, 81 percent of European companies said their prime motive for migrating to the cloud is to access innovative functions that are not available via on-premises technologies. This, Mitel said, is a notable increase from previous reports. “Cloud-based solutions are synony- mous with innovation for a large majority of respondents and appear to be inevitable,” explained Mitel marketing director Jean- Denis Garo. “In a world where a com- pany’s ability to rapidly adopt change has become critical, the pay-as-you use model answers their need for flexibility and innovation, particularly where col- laboration is concerned.” Forty-four percent of companies, it should be noted, said that the cloud makes it possible to take advantage of new options, while also retaining control over human resource investment such as training employees and hiring experts. This attitude was most prevalent in France and Spain. We’re also starting to see a shift in how companies perceive cloud securi- ty. Questions about GDPR aside, attitudes about cloud security are in flux. Clouds Over Europe By Gerald Baldino ccording to a recent report from 451 Research, 80 percent of EU-based enterprises are either designing a cloud transition strategy or running a pilot project. Cloud adoption is spreading across Europe as businesses seek more agile environments international Agents 18 Channel Vision | May - June, 2019