Pew Survey on Cloud Computing

The Pew Internet & American Life Project has published a study of Americans' use of "cloud computing," in which data and applications are stored online and are accessible via Web browsers.

As more and more nonprofits move to using hosted customer-relationship management tools (CRMs) and venture into the world of social networking sites where data and privacy is pretty loosely maintained, cloud computing should be on the mind of organizations as well.

The findings of the study include:

• 69% of online Americans use webmail, store data online, or use web-based software programs.
• Users report high levels of concern that companies may put their data to uses of which they may not be aware:
  • 90% of respondents said they would be very concerned if the vendor sold their data to another party.
  • 80% said they would be very concerned if companies used their photos or other data in marketing campaigns.
  • 68% said they would be very concerned if companies analyzed their information and then showed them targeted ads.

The survey results are available from this site in PDF form.