IT outsourcing providers need to provide clients with reassurances before moving any their data and applications to the cloud.

Many businesses are adopting cloud computing without drawing up definitive strategies and policies, reports Channelinsider.com.

As a result, many are leaving themselves open to risks, including an increased danger of security breaches.

The IT news provider said it was the duty of service providers to advise companies that “not all things belong in the cloud”.

Security is a top priority for businesses, with 47 per cent of respondents in a CA Technologies survey saying they do not believe cloud services evaluated for security before being deployed, the website revealed.

Outsourcing providers should help firms to establish what aspects of their operations are suitable for the cloud.

According to a new study conducted by Redshift Research, many businesses are not fully aware how to make the most of cloud computing, with some bosses not even familiar with the term.