According to a survey of 1300 UK SMEs by employment agency PeoplePerHour.com, 74% of SMEs do not use cloud computing, although this figure is down from the 82% recorded in a similar survey in June, says the company.
Amongst those SMEs not using cloud computing, just under a half (43%) didn't even know what the term meant. PeoplePerHour.com adds that, amongst those SMEs not using cloud computing, over a third (36%) did not see a need for the technology, whilst 10% thought it too expensive.
Interestingly, researchers also found that security problems worried 9%, whilst 2% did not think the technology was reliable enough.
Commenting on the results, Xenios Thrasyvoulou, the founder and CEO of the online employment firm, said that UK SME owners have successfully incorporated a wide variety of technologies into their business models over the past few years.
Despite this, he said that the survey highlights the confusion - and a possibly even a sense of scepticism - that many small businesses have over cloud computing.
"Small businesses are yet to be convinced of the advantages of accessing the amount of computer processing power and memory available online", he said.
"Although the uptake is improving, the vast majority of small businesses are still voting with their wallets", he added.
Thrasyvoulou went on to say that, against this backdrop, it may well be that SaaS (software-as-a-service) developers are going to have to try harder - and think smarter - when it comes to designing and promoting bespoke products for the SME market.