Report Details Top IT Predictions for 2012

Analysts from 451 Research recently released their list of the top enterprise technology trends for 2012. Not surprisingly, cloud computing will continue to be a top priority for many organizations throughout the new year.

According to the report, enterprise cloud services will become more serious this year, while the technology will also drive companies' agendas and consolidation of hosting plans. However, questions over the data security capabilities and risks associated with the cloud will persist, analysts said.

"Economic concerns will weigh heavily on the minds of IT decision-makers this year, and will increasingly drive customers toward considering cloud-based approaches," 451 research director Simon Robinson said. "Indeed, 2012 could be when the cloud comes of age, and for the first time will really begin to nip away at traditional IT deployment models in enterprise environments."

Other predictions include the continued rise of mobility and the increasing importance of virtualization to mission-critical systems.

According to industry expert Claire Galbois-Alcaix, many organizations are already discovering the benefits the cloud can have for disaster recovery strategies. The technology, she said, features the flexibility needed to restore information quickly and effectively.