Laypeople and Experts risk perception of Cloud Computing Services

TL;DR

This study investigates how laypeople and experts perceive risks associated with Cloud computing services, revealing key factors influencing their perceptions and implications for adoption strategies.

Contribution

It identifies the components and factors influencing risk perception of Cloud services among laypeople and experts, highlighting the gap affecting decision-making.

Findings

Risk perception is explained by dread and unknown risk components.

Perceived benefits, trust, and attitude influence risk perception.

Risk perception accounts for up to 46% of variance.

Abstract

Cloud computing is revolutionising the way software services are procured and used by Government organizations and SMEs. Quantitative risk assessment of Cloud services is complex and undermined by specific security concerns regarding data confidentiality, integrity and availability. This study explores how the gap between the quantitative risk assessment and the perception of the risk can produce a bias in the decision-making process about Cloud computing adoption. The risk perception of experts in Cloud computing (N=37) and laypeople (N=81) about ten Cloud computing services was investigated using the psychometric paradigm. Results suggest that the risk perception of Cloud services can be represented by two components, called dread risk and unknown risk, which may explain up to 46% of the variance. Other factors influencing the risk perception were perceived benefits, trust in regulatory authorities and technology attitude. This study suggests some implications that could support Government and non-Government organizations in their strategies for Cloud computing adoption.