Cloud influencing wide range of IT infrastructure globally: TechNavio

TechNavio, the independent tech-focused global research firm, has published several reports in quick succession on the significance of cloud-based applications on various aspects of commercial business. Cloud computing solutions increase IT management efficiency and improve security and work environments, the research firm noted.  

A report on the Global Warehouse Management Systems* (WMS) market, which TechNavio forecasts will grow at a CAGR of 16.7% from 2014 to 2018, notes that software as a service (SaaS)-based on-demand WMS are gaining traction around the world, as is increased use of cloud computing and radio frequency identification (RFID ) technology. 

When it comes to smart railway systems**, cloud hosting is also attracting interest, enabling rail reservations and train tracking on the go. The Global Smart Railway System Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 26.11% from 2013 to 2018, TechNavio said. 

These services help the railways to maintain train times and managing other activities without any hurdles, TechNavio said, observing that several countries including India are using cloud computing to make their systems more efficient. Cloud computing is also used these days for supply chain management, to reduce traffic congestion, for planning, and for forecasting seat demand.

“Within the railway industry, the need to increase customer satisfaction has become very important, which is helping the railways innovate their systems for speed and better reliability among their customers. This trend is expected to have a medium term impact on the growth of the market during the forecast period,” says Faisal Ghaus, Vice President of TechNavio Research.

The Global Network Security*** market is expected to have a CAGR of 8.2% from 2013 to 2018, is being fuelled by SaaS from 2014 onwards. SaaS-based security solutions are increasingly being sought by small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) because of their cost reduction and easy installation benefits, TechNavio observed. 

Source: TechNavio.

“SMBs and startups alike are turning to SaaS-based security solutions over on-premises solutions because of advantages such as easy installation, easy upgrading, cost advantages, and signature-independent scanning,” says Faisal Ghaus, Vice President of TechNavio Research.

“Large enterprises are also opting for SaaS-based (or hybrid) solutions for the same reasons. This high demand for SaaS-based solutions will help promote strong growth in the overall market during the forecast period.”

The global messaging security gateway**** services market, a subset of the network security market, has seen a significant boost from SaaS. TechNavio forecasts that the Global Messaging Security Gateway Market will grow at a CAGR of 55.52% from 2013 to 2018. 

“The demand for messaging security gateway services among end-users have increased because they automatically scan all messaging traffic to protect enterprise subscribers against unwanted spam and malicious messages,” says Ghaus.

"SaaS-based security solutions automatically update the product, thereby enabling it to respond to the latest security threats. Growing requirements of companies are increasing the demand for SaaS-based solutions, which has now outpaced the demand for traditional software and hardware-based messaging security gateway solutions.”

*TechNavio defines a warehouse management system as one which allows optimised management and storage of products and items in a warehouse.

**TechNavio describes a smart railway system as comprising solutions, devices and components, and services that automate and optimise the usage of railway infrastructure to carry out advanced functions. It has several components such as passenger reservation and information systems, freight operations information systems, railway traffic management, operations and asset management, IP-based security monitoring, communications, ticketing, and railway analytics.

***TechNavio says network security comprises products and services used to monitor, detect, and prevent unauthorised access, misuse, or malfunction, or to disable/destroy a computer network.

****A messaging security gateway protects messaging infrastructures. The technology filters Internet messaging services such as email and instant messaging for spam and other threats, and secures the confidentiality of information with techniques such as encryption, content filtering, and data loss prevention.