Executive Summary
Cloud computing in the GCC is still at a very early stage, and although there is a lot of potential for its wide spread usage, concerns regarding security risks deter its fast adoption. Cost reduction in hardware and software licenses, speed of adoption, improving IT productivity and seamless transition between providers are attractive to companies. On the other hand, data loss or theft, and privacy risks are seen as major challenges. Recent surveys and trends indicate that cloud computing is opening up in a big way in the GCC countries, and that companies are taking a serious look to increase their competitive advantage.
