Posted by: Richard Saunders, Director, Trustworthy Computing

Earlier today Microsoft Trustworthy Computing announced the results of a study showing the security benefits U.S. small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) gain from cloud computing. In this study we found that U.S. SMBs using the cloud had a comparative advantage over U.S. SMBs not using the cloud in the area of security efficiency.

I’m pleased to announce that U.S. SMBs aren’t alone in seeing improved security efficiencies from using the cloud. New data shows SMBs in Singapore have had similar experiences:

• In a given week, SMBs in Singapore that use the cloud spend on average 50% less time managing security than SMBs that don’t use the cloud
• Over the last three years, SMBs in Singapore that use the cloud are 2x more likely to have decreased what they spend on managing security as a percentage of overall budget for information technology, compared to SMBs that do not use the cloud
• When asked to choose from a drop down list of specific cloud benefits:
  • 43% of SMBs said their business was more secure as a result of moving to the cloud
  • 50% said it was easier to integrate systems
  • 48% said they worried less about the threat of cyber-attack

In coming weeks, we’ll continue to highlight data showing the security benefits of the cloud for SMBs in different parts of Asia. Look to the Microsoft Security, Privacy and Online Safety Newsroom for more information.