Breaking Barriers: Embracing Cloud Adoption
Cloud adoption offers real advantages for small and medium-sized businesses—but concerns around cost, complexity, and security often slow progress.
Cloud adoption can be transformative for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but many organisations face significant challenges when considering the move. In our latest presentation, we explore the most common technical and non-technical barriers, from cost concerns and data security fears to a lack of management support.
The presentation goes beyond identifying obstacles—it highlights the substantial benefits cloud computing offers SMEs, such as cost savings, scalability, and improved collaboration. We also share practical strategies to mitigate adoption risks and ensure a smooth transition, and share a typical roadmap for a cloud adoption initiative.
What You'll Learn in This Slide Deck
- Top technical and non-technical barriers to cloud adoption
- Key benefits SMEs can unlock with cloud infrastructure
- Strategies to manage risk and improve organisational buy-in
- A sample roadmap for a successful cloud transition
Listen to the Podcast
This short audio walkthrough adds insight and real-world context to the presentation. Perfect for SME leaders, IT managers, or anyone tasked with navigating a cloud transformation.
Why This Matters
Cloud adoption is no longer optional—it’s essential for growth, agility, and operational resilience. But adoption isn’t just about infrastructure. It requires leadership alignment, smart planning, and trust in the process. This resource gives you a realistic path forward.
Abdalla, R. A., Ramayah, T., Sankar, J. P., Hidaytalla, L. A., & John, J. A. (2024). Enhancing efficiency: The impact of cloud computing adoption on small and medium enterprises performance. Emerging Science Journal, 8(6), 2431–2448. https://doi.org/10.28991/esj-2024-08-06-017
Alsafi, T., & Fan, I. (2020). Investigation of cloud Computing Barriers: A case study in Saudi Arabian SMEs. Journal of Information Systems Engineering & Management, 5(4), em0129. https://doi.org/10.29333/jisem/8534
Al-Sharafi, M., Iranmanesh, M., Al-Emran, M., Alzahrani, A., Herzallah, F., & Jamil, N. (2023). Determinants of cloud computing integration and its impact on sustainable performance in SMEs: An empirical investigation using the SEM-ANN approach. Heliyon, 9(5), e16299. https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(23)03506-5
Boateng, F. O., Awudu, F., Shardey, K., & Owusu, A. O. (2024). Cloud Computing Practices among Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs); Contemporary Trends, Possibilities, and Challenges. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology (IJISRT), 2123–2133. https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/ijisrt24oct1437
Carvalho, L., & Marden, M. (2018). Fostering Business and Organizational Transformation to Generate Business Value with Amazon Web Services. https://pages.awscloud.com/rs/112-TZM-766/images/AWS-BV%20IDC%202018.pdf
Cloud Computing Adoption in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES): A Systematic Literature Review and Directions for Future Research | International Journal of Business and Society. (n.d.). https://publisher.unimas.my/ojs/index.php/IJBS/article/view/4610
DeStefano, T., Kneller, R., & Timmis, J. (2020). Cloud computing and firm growth. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3618829
Djamila, T. A., & Abdelatif, M. (2022). The impact of setting up a cloud computing solution on small and medium organization’s management: a Qualitative study. Business Ethics and Leadership, 6(1), 33–38. https://doi.org/10.21272/bel.6(1).33-38.2022
Kamarudin, S., Khalili, A. H. A., Aziz, Z. F. A., Kamarudin, K. A., & Wahab, A. N. A. (2022). Exploring of potential of cloud computing for small and medium enterprises. Indonesian Journal of Information Systems, 4(2). https://doi.org/10.24002/ijis.v4i2.5487
Karagozlu, D., Ajamu, J., & Mbombo, A. B. (2020). Adaptation and effects of cloud computing on small businesses. BRAIN BROAD RESEARCH IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND NEUROSCIENCE, 11(4), 149–167. https://doi.org/10.18662/brain/11.4/146
Kaufmann, A., Vasquez, L. A., & Enterprise Strategy Group. (2023). Economic Validation: Maximizing the Value of Your Data with AWS Cloud Infrastructure. In AWS, Enterprise Strategy Group Economic Validation. https://d1.awsstatic.com/AWS%20Cloud%20Storage/ESG-Economic-Validation--Maximizing-Economic-Advantages-by-Migrating-to-AWS-Cloud-Infrastructure.pdf
Khan, N., & Al-Yasiri, A. (2015). Framework for Cloud Computing Adoption: A Roadmap for SMES to Cloud Migration. International Journal on Cloud Computing Services and Architecture, 5(5/6), 01–15. https://doi.org/10.5121/ijccsa.2015.5601
Nguyen, G. T., & Liaw, S. (2022). Understanding the Factors Affecting the Small and Medium Enterprises Adoption of Cloud computing: A Literature Review. International Journal of Business Management and Economics, 3(2), 149–162. https://doi.org/10.47747/ijbme.v3i2.635
Onwuzurike, M. A. (2024). Merits and Demerits of cloud computing for business. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology (IJISRT), 1343–1354. https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/ijisrt24may1039
Rawat, B., & Bhandari, R. (2023). Cloud computing applications in business development. Startupreneur Business Digital (SABDA Journal), 2(2), 143–154. https://doi.org/10.33050/sabda.v2i2.285
Samvatsar, M., & Kanungo, P. (2020). An analytical review and analysis for the data control and security in cloud computing. International Journal of Advanced Technology and Engineering Exploration, 7(73), 241–246. https://doi.org/10.19101/ijatee.2020.762181
Tehrani, S. R., & Shirazi, F. (2014). Factors influencing the adoption of cloud computing by small and medium size enterprises (SMEs). In Lecture notes in computer science (pp. 631–642). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07863-2_60
Digital transformation doesn’t end at go-live. Learn how to sustain momentum through continuous optimisation, agile practices, and long-term support to maximise your investment.