Cloud Computing Services for Improving Efficiency In Omani Small and Medium Enterprises Sector

Abstract

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) assure economic growth in Oman. Generally, many SMEs are struggling to survive in an ongoing global recession and are often reluctant to use research results and new technologies for business and learning. Cloud Computing offers many opportunities and could help companies to improve their business and use technology more efficiently. Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) assure economic growth in Oman, but the last financial crisis and the economic recession have hit SMEs hard in Omani SMEe and some of them have difficulties to survive and less resource to invest in new technologies. Cloud Computing offers many opportunities and can help companies to improve their business and use technology more efficiently. Some features i.e. on-demand services, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity and measured service distinguish Cloud from other computer networking models. According to the analyst firm IDC in 2012 more than 1.7 million cloud computing jobs have remained unoccupied and the trend should lead to more than seven million cloud-related vacancies worldwide. In this research, cloud computing advantages and disadvantages of cloud technology are reflected in the context of Omani SME sector. The project IN-Cloud is analyzed considering Omani SME project to understand the effectiveness of efforts in this direction. The general objective of the project IN-CLOUD are to study the framework of use of cloud computing in SME sector. Survey results of Cloud Computing and advantages for SMEs are presented in paper within the context of Omani SME sector. The results show that 70% of SMEs have adopted or used some of features of Cloud services but they indicated the need n for awareness, safety and training, qualified professional staff in this field.