If businesses understood cloud computing more, there would be a rise in its utilisation, according to one expert, which could potentially see a rise in IT contractor jobs.

Clodagh Murphy, director at Eclipse, said that small businesses are so preoccupied with surviving in today's tough market that they are overlooking new technology such as cloud computing.

"What puts businesses off is that they don't fully understand it. We are trying to put it into English so that people can easily understand," she explained.

Meanwhile, research from the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) has found that if Europe's five largest economies continue to adopt cloud technology as predicted, €177.3 billion (£148.7 billion) will be generated by 2015.

In addition, Ovum has stated that security, cloud service and sustainability will be three key trends in enterprise throughout the coming year.