| 2021 | 2020 | |
| 47 | 43 | |
| Office software | 43 | 28 |
| Storage of files | 40 | 44 |
| Security software applications | 32 | 0 |
| Finance or accounting software applications | 31 | 24 |
| Hosting the enterprise's database(s) | 23 | 30 |
| Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software | 14 | 18 |
| Providing platform for application development, testing or deployment (APIs) | 9 | 0 |
| Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software applications | 8 | 0 |
| Computing power to run the enterprise's own software | 7 | 15 |
Cloud computing is on-demand access, via the internet, to computing resources such as software and data storage. Almost six in ten (59%) enterprises purchased a cloud computing service in 2021, an increase from 51% when compared to the previous year. The most popular type of cloud computing service in 2021 was e-mail with 47% of firms availing of this service, an increase from 43% in 2020. The most popular service in 2020, storage of files, decreased from 44% to 40%. Cloud computing for office software increased from 28% in 2020 to 43% in 2021. Use of cloud computing services for finance or accounting applications increased to 31% in 2021 from 24% the previous year while database hosting decreased from 30% in 2020 to 23% in 2021.
In 2021, 32% of firms indicated that they use cloud computing for security software applications. Almost one in ten (9%) use cloud computing to provide a platform for app development or deployment of an Application Programming Interface (API) while 8% used it to host and manage cloud-based ERP software. See Figure 5.1 and Table 5.1.
| Table 5.1 Purchase of Cloud Computing services by enterprises, 2020 and 20211 | ||
| % | ||
| 2020 | 2021 | |
| Purchase of any Cloud Computing services | 51 | 59 |
| of which: E-mail | 43 | 47 |
| Office software | 28 | 43 |
| Storage of files | 44 | 40 |
| Security software applications | n/a | 32 |
| Finance or accounting software applications | 24 | 31 |
| Hosting the enterprise's database(s) | 30 | 23 |
| Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software | 18 | 14 |
| Providing platform for application development, testing or deployment (APIs) | n/a | 9 |
| Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software applications | n/a | 8 |
| Computing power to run the enterprise's own software | 15 | 7 |
| 1Enterprises may avail of more than one type of Cloud Computing service. | ||
| Source: CSO | ||
| Manufacturing sector | Construction sector | Selected services sector | |
| 54 | 48 | 46 | |
| Office software | 45 | 48 | 42 |
| Storage of files | 48 | 41 | 39 |
| Security software applications | 34 | 33 | 31 |
| Finance or accounting software applications | 29 | 31 | 32 |
| Hosting the enterprise's database(s) | 26 | 18 | 24 |
| Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software | 12 | 4 | 16 |
| Providing platform for application development, testing or deployment (APIs) | 10 | 3 | 10 |
| Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software applications | 11 | 5 | 8 |
| Computing power to run the enterprise's own software | 7 | 3 | 7 |
More than two-thirds (67%) of Manufacturing enterprises purchased cloud computing services in 2021. In comparison, 61% of Construction firms and 57% of businesses from Services purchased cloud computing.
The most common cloud computing service provided to Manufacturing firms and selected Services firms was e-mail with 54% and 46% respectively. The most common cloud computing service used by Construction enterprises was e-mail and office software, both with 48% uptake.
Almost half (48%) of Manufacturers used cloud computing for file storage compared to 41% and 39% for Construction and selected Service enterprises. A higher proportion of selected Services enterprises used cloud computing for CRM (16%) compared to Manufacturing (12%) and Construction (4%). Construction firms were less likely to use cloud computing to provide a platform for application development, testing or deployment (3%) compared to 10% for both Manufacturing and Services. See Figure 5.2 and Table 5.2.
| Table 5.2 Purchase of Cloud Computing services by sector, 20211 | ||||
| % | ||||
| Manufacturing sector | Construction sector | Selected services sector | Total | |
| Purchase of any Cloud Computing services | 67 | 61 | 57 | 59 |
| of which: E-mail | 54 | 48 | 46 | 47 |
| Office software | 45 | 48 | 42 | 43 |
| Storage of files | 48 | 41 | 39 | 40 |
| Security software applications | 34 | 33 | 31 | 32 |
| Finance or accounting software applications | 29 | 31 | 32 | 31 |
| Hosting the enterprise's database(s) | 26 | 18 | 24 | 23 |
| Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software | 12 | 4 | 16 | 14 |
| Providing platform for application development, testing or deployment (APIs) | 10 | 3 | 10 | 9 |
| Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software applications | 11 | 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Computing power to run the enterprise's own software | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 |
| 1Enterprises may avail of more than one type of Cloud Computing service. | ||||
| Source: CSO | ||||
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