Nonprofits increasingly adopting cloud‐based software services

• Date: 01 April 2016
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/nba.30177
• Published date: 01 April 2016

6

APRIL 2016

NONPROFIT BUSINESS ADVISOR

© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company • All rights reserved

DOI: 10.1002/nba

Technology

Nonprots increasingly adopting

cloud-based software services

Nonprots are increasingly turning to software-

as-a-service, or “the cloud,” for their software needs,

research shows, calling on both private and public

cloud platforms for services ranging from email and

ofce applications to database management and ac-

counting. But concerns about privacy and reliability

continue to give many charities pause, even as the

advantages of cloud computing become ever greater.

The new research, conducted by the Nonprot

Technology Network in partnership with Microsoft

Philanthropies, shows that cloud services are now a

core part of nonprot operations, with 100 percent

of survey respondents indicating they use at least two

cloud services, up from 80 percent in the group’s last

survey in 2011.

Per NTEN’s report, email and other established

activities like ofce software, databases and data stor-

age are the most popular cloud services for nonprots.

But others, such as project management, accounting,

virtual machines and data analysis, are trending up,

indicating that the cloud will continue to gain favor

in the years ahead.

Many organizations are still somewhat wary of

possible security concerns, especially in light of

numerous high-prole computer hacks that have

splashed across headlines this past year. According to

the survey, the most common concerns for nonprots

considering a cloud service include:

• Can they keep unauthorized people from access-

ing their data?

• Will they lose control of their own data?

• Will their staff have reliable access to their data?

• Will there be conicts with local laws in areas in

which the organization and staff work?

• Management, safety, control of employee devices.

However, security is just one of many concerns

that are guiding decisions over the use of the cloud.

Others cited by those surveyed for the report include:

• The feature set for the service.

• The ability to work remotely.

• The total cost over time.

• The ability to work with other existing

applications.

• The time it takes to maintain the software.

• The time it takes for our staff to use the software.

• The cost of converting from the organization’s

previous technology.

• The time it takes to train staff to use the new

service.

The survey detailed several advantages—and a

few drawbacks—that nonprofits are seeing with

increased use of the cloud. Of those polled that are

actively measuring the business impact or return on

investment in cloud-based services, the most common

advantages and disadvantages were noted as follows:

• Access. This includes improved collaboration,

remote access, resolving regional issues and enhanced

Types of cloud services

used by nonprots

• Document storage 18.7 %

• Project management 10.7 %

• Staff e-mail 10.7 %

• Ofce software (word processing, etc.) 9.3 %

• Constituent database 8 %

• Databases 6.7 %

• Phone system or voicemail 4 %

• Servers 4 %

• Broadcast e-mail to constituents 2.7 %

• Accounting 2.7 %

• Data storage 1.3 %

• Data analysis 1.3 %

• Virtual Machines 1.3 %

• Device Management 1.3 %

• User network access and control 1.3 %

(See CLOUD on page 9)