According to a newly released survey from Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), small and midsize businesses (SMBs) that use the cloud see an opportunity to enhance security and save money, while SMBs not using cloud services are concerned about security and the cost of migrating to the cloud. Microsoft’s research objective was to see to how the expectations of businesses not using the cloud compared with those of companies that had already adopted cloud services.

Research firm comScore conducted the survey on behalf of Microsoft, and did not reveal to participants who the sponsoring company was. comScore surveyed 94 SMBs — defined in this case as those using 100-250 PCs in its network — that use cloud services and 93 that do not. Cloud users were defined as firms paying for cloud services on a subscription, whether they be SaaS, PaaS or IaaS and regardless of cloud vendor used.

The survey found that SMB cloud users had, on average, 18 fewer hours per week for security management time, since that is mostly handled by the cloud service provider. Cloud users over the past three years saw security costs decrease five times higher that non-cloud users. Twenty percent of cloud users reported lower security management costs, while only 4 percent of non-users did.

Of the cloud non-users, 40 percent said security is the main reason they have not committed to cloud services, although 67 percent said they would feel more secure if industry standards for cloud security were enacted. Thirty-eight percent would have more confidence based on security transparency — operational network visibility allowing customers to base their standards and best practices on an open model.

Last week Talkin’ Cloud reported on a CA Technologies survey of 300 American and Canadian companies, showing that all the respondents experienced data or application loss, yet only 26 percent said they have a data protection plan in place.