Software giant SAP cites analysts as saying the Russian cloud computing market is growing at a rate of 30 to 40 percent a year.
The Russian affiliate of the German-based firm, SAP CIS, a partner of the Skolkovo Foundation, said in a press release on Tuesday that “analysts agree, the cloud market in Russia is continuing to grow at 30-40 percent.”
“A significant chunk of the market for cloud services is occupied by fast-growing business,” the company added.
SAP CIS, which has around 150 clients in Russia, said the analysts it had spoken to came from companies such as Gartner, Forrester Research, IDC, Accenture, PriceWaterHouseCoopers, Deloitte, Ernst&Young and others.
Cloud computing involves plugging into central servers, or clouds, to network with coworkers or clients or access data. It guards against the perils of losing data stored locally and also facilitates all manner of data exchange remotely.
Cloud servers can be open to the public or closed off for private use within a company or groups of companies.
In the West, clients tend to opt for a bundle or package of cloud services from a provider to manage their needs, which range from client relations management to telecommunications solutions.
In Russia, by contrast, clients tend to pick and choose the individual services required, and therefore retain a greater level of control over costs, SAP said.
Factors holding the Russian market back include “the monopolization of industries and the low level of market competition in comparison with Western countries,” SAP quoted the analysts as saying.
The company cited Sergei Makedonsky, a regional director for Forrester Research and president of the ASTRA strategic outsourcing association, as saying “the number of cloud service users in Russia is already in the millions.”
Makedonsky said “significant” work is needed to make the Russian cloud computing market “really attractive,” such as better integration and cooperation between internet companies, industry associations and the government.