Results from the survey – Data Management Healthcheck 2010 – due to be published at the World of Health IT event in Barcelona next week, will show that only 6.5% of respondents say that cloud storage is currently the destination media of choice for their data.

In addition, the survey's sponsors, Bridgehead Software, will report that only 33% said their healthcare organisation plans to adopt a cloud storage strategy for any data within the next two years.

The online survey was designed to assess healthcare's preparedness for the massive volume of data generated by the industry's increasing reliance upon information technology.

According to to the data archiving specialist, an overwhelming majority of respondents to date – more than 80% – reported that the most significant factor influencing decisions about using cloud computing storage is concern about security and availability of data.

Respondents also cited cost and a lack of conviction that cloud storage offers significant benefits when compared to local media.

Tony Cotterill, the firm's CEO, said that these results are very interesting and highly indicative of the industry's rightful concern about the security of confidential and sensitive material.

"Second to delivering excellent care, healthcare leaders are committed to protecting any and all information pertaining to patients", he said.

Although the healthcare industry is proceeding cautiously, Cotterill says that many experts anticipate that a cloud strategy will play an escalating role in data storage, backup and archiving.

"Other industries are leading the way", he said. "They have discovered that including the cloud as an integral component of their overarching IT strategy offers a number of benefits, including increased efficiency, scalability and cost savings."