The cloud may look increasingly appealing for a large variety of applications, but it isn't likely to be the main vehicle for four categories of software, according to researchers at Forrester. Operating systems and databases, internal IT and data management, legacy process applications, and vertical applications are likely to remain mostly in house, reports Chris Kanaracus of IDG New Service.

Software-as-a-service will have a hard time displacing on-premises programs in these categories, which account for 40 percent of the software market, Forrester predicts. Concerns about security, integration and existing investment make companies want to keep these programs closer to the vest.

Where SaaS is finding an inroad, however, is in software programs like human resources systems and customer relationship management systems. It is also gaining some momentum in supply chain management and governance, risk and compliance programs, according to Forrester.

For more:
- see Chris Kanaracus' article at CIO

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