Virtualization software usage to reach 'tipping point' by 2014

Data management processes look set for an overhaul at many companies with widespread adoption of virtualization services expected.

According to research from Gartner, penetration of cloud email and collaboration services (CECS) will stand at ten per cent by the end of 2014.

This, the IT research specialist suggests, will mark the "tipping point" after which wide-scale adoption of software-as-a-service will begin.

Tom Austin, vice-president and Gartner fellow, says that CECS will become the dominant model for the next generation for communication and collaboration technologies, particularly in retail and the healthcare sector.

"However, it is not dominant today, it will not be the only model, and it will take a decade or more for the transition to play out," he added.

An earlier Gartner study suggested that North America will account for 64 per cent of software-as-a-service revenue in 2011, reaching a total of $12.1 billion. This marks a 20.7 per cent increase from last year.