Cloud computing services such as managed hosting are "crossing the chasm" as the sector expands and the technology is adopted by more firms, an expert has noted.
Frank Gens, chief analyst at the International Data Corporation (IDC), said that managed hosting will continue to grow over the next four years as firms realise the benefits of adopting the technology.
His comments follow the publication of an IDC study forecasting revenue growth from public IT cloud services up to 2014 and its impact on the industry as a whole.
Mr Gens explained that the forecast shows how public IT cloud services are currently expanding into other areas of the industry with modest revenue but very fast growth.
"Cloud services will be a major contributor to IT industry growth by 2014. IDC sees 2010-2014 as important years for IT suppliers to position themselves to capture that growth," he stated.
Meanwhile, a poll of IT decision makers conducted by research firm Loudhouse has shown that over half of companies are making use of managed hosting and other cloud computing services, with the vast majority of these seeing immediate benefits.