2013 Path to an OpenStack-Powered Cloud Survey Results Highlight Aggressive OpenStack Adoption Plans by Enterprises

84 percent of enterprise IT decision makers surveyed say OpenStack is part of future private cloud plans, Red Hat and IDG Connect survey shows

RALEIGH, N.C. -

RALEIGH, N.C. - OCT. 15, 2013 – An overwhelming majority of enterprise IT decision makers surveyed say that OpenStack is part of their organization’s future cloud infrastructure plans, according to results of the 2013 Path to an OpenStack-Powered Cloud survey announced today by Red Hat, Inc. (NYSE: RHT), the world's leading provider of open source solutions.

The OpenStack and private cloud development survey of 200 U.S. enterprise decision makers, commissioned by Red Hat through IDG Connect, found that the majority of organizations (51 percent) are on either their second or third implementation of private cloud, using internally developed solutions or alternative offerings from vendors. The survey results show that internal development of private cloud has left organizations with a host of challenges to address, including:

  • Resource management (21 percent);
  • Simplifying IT management (18 percent);
  • Application management (18 percent); and
  • Application migration (18 percent).

As organizations work to address these issues, survey results indicate that enterprises are moving, or have plans to move, to OpenStack for private cloud initiatives. Sixty (60) percent of survey respondents indicate that they are in the early stages of their OpenStack deployments, and have either not yet completed the implementation stage or are early in the process. An overwhelming 84 percent of respondents say that OpenStack is part of their future cloud plans.

Survey respondents cite management visibility (73 percent); deployment speed (72 percent); platform flexibility (69 percent); better agility (69 percent); and competitive advantage (67 percent) as the unique benefits offered by OpenStack over private cloud alternatives. The top challenges to OpenStack adoption include IT staff skill gaps (32 percent), budget limitations (23 percent), and questions about OpenStack project maturity (11 percent) and where to start (10 percent). Survey data further indicates that decision makers believe OpenStack vendors and system integrators are best-positioned to provide experience, help justify investments, and close employee skill gaps.

“The survey findings offer a clear indication that OpenStack is quickly becoming a reality for many IT organizations, and can serve as a viable cloud infrastructure backbone for private cloud,” said Radhesh Balakrishnan, general manager, Virtualization, Red Hat. “The survey shows that business leaders understand that OpenStack can bring improved visibility, speed, flexibility, and agility to the private cloud. As these organizations move to OpenStack-powered clouds, they are looking to IT industry leaders to deliver enterprise-class OpenStack by offering a normalized lifecycle, training and support, and a broad ecosystem of partners and OpenStack-certified solutions that will make their journey seamless.”

See an infographic highlighting the results of the 2013 Path to an OpenStack-Powered Cloud survey  at http://bit.ly/PrivateCloudSurvey.

Methodology and Demographics
IDG Connect conducted an online survey on behalf of Red Hat to understand perceptions of private cloud, and particularly, OpenStack. The survey polled 200 individuals actively involved in IT investment decisions from U.S. companies with at least 1,000 employees. Thirty-five (35) percent of respondents were from organizations with more than 5,000 employees. Respondents represented major verticals, including manufacturing, financial services, healthcare / pharmaceutical, retail, and public sector.

 

OpenStack_Infographic.jpg
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About Red Hat, Inc.
Red Hat is the world's leading provider of open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to reliable and high-performing cloud, Linux, middleware, storage and virtualization technologies. Red Hat also offers award-winning support, training, and consulting services. As the connective hub in a global network of enterprises, partners, and open source communities, Red Hat helps create relevant, innovative technologies that liberate resources for growth and prepare customers for the future of IT. Learn more at http://www.redhat.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: risks related to delays or reductions in information technology spending; the effects of industry consolidation; the ability of the Company to compete effectively; the integration of acquisitions and the ability to market successfully acquired technologies and products; uncertainty and adverse results in litigation and related settlements; the inability to adequately protect Company intellectual property and the potential for infringement or breach of license claims of or relating to third party intellectual property; the ability to deliver and stimulate demand for new products and technological innovations on a timely basis; risks related to data and information security vulnerabilities; ineffective management of, and control over, the Company's growth and international operations; fluctuations in exchange rates; and changes in and a dependence on key personnel, as well as other factors contained in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (copies of which may be accessed through the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov), including those found therein under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations". In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic and political conditions, governmental and public policy changes and the impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

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Red Hat, the Shadowman logo, JBoss, and OpenShift are registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. Linux® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds and OpenStack is a registered trademark of OpenStack, LLC.

The OpenStack® Word Mark and OpenStack Logo are either registered trademarks / service marks or trademarks / service marks of the OpenStack Foundation, in the United States and other countries and are used with the OpenStack Foundation's perm
ission. We are not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by the OpenStack Foundation or the OpenStack community.

  • About Red Hat
  • Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to reliable and high-performing cloud, Linux, middleware, storage and virtualization technologies. Red Hat also offers award-winning support, training, and consulting services. As the connective hub in a global network of enterprises, partners, and open source communities, Red Hat helps create relevant, innovative technologies that liberate resources for growth and prepare customers for the future of IT. Learn more at http://www.redhat.com.



  • Forward-Looking Statements
  • Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: risks related to delays or reductions in information technology spending; the effects of industry consolidation; the ability of the Company to compete effectively; the integration of acquisitions and the ability to market successfully acquired technologies and products; uncertainty and adverse results in litigation and related settlements; the inability to adequately protect Company intellectual property and the potential for infringement or breach of license claims of or relating to third party intellectual property; the ability to deliver and stimulate demand for new products and technological innovations on a timely basis; risks related to data and information security vulnerabilities; ineffective management of, and control over, the Company’s growth and international operations; fluctuations in exchange rates; and changes in and a dependence on key personnel, as well as other factors contained in our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (copies of which may be accessed through the Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at http://www.sec.gov), including those found therein under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations". In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic and political conditions, governmental and public policy changes and the impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes and floods. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.