More than a quarter of IT executives plan on deploying private cloud networks this year, according to a new survey.

This demand is thought to be driven by a need to respond to increasing workload demands with IT support while cutting costs, according to Platform Computing, which carried out the survey.

One in four executives polled believe that clouds can improve efficiency, while 17 per cent claim they will help to cut costs.

Meanwhile, 15 per cent said that they are still experimenting with cloud computing, with more than two thirds (67 per cent) planning on running a simulation to test the technology.

However, chief marketing officer at Platform Computing Randy Clark indicated that the results also showed decision-makers remain unconvinced of the technology's benefits.

He said: "If enterprises are to reap the full benefits of private clouds, the IT function will evolve to become a business service partner to the business.

"While this transition will not happen overnight, it's hugely important and will require internal leadership and world-class vendor support."

The research follows claims by the news editor of Web User Magazine Ben Camm-Jones that attitudes towards IT services are changing the way people think about and use the internet.