Small and medium businesses are becoming more comfortable using cloud services, a new study says,

The survey, conducted by Webtorials for VoIP provider Fonality found that 14 percent more SMBs say they understand cloud-based service options but most still are focused on optimizing the total cost of operations.

Those findings, said Fonality, create a window of opportunity for cloud-savvy vendors.

"These findings suggest that SMBs are beginning to connect the cost-saving potential of (cloud) services to their overall mission of reducing expenditures and minimizing TCO," said Fonality CEO David Scult. "While controlling costs by investing in new technology seems contradictory, cloud-based communications tools, in particular, can be leveraged to drive competitive differentiation and maximize operational expenses. As a result, this technology can help spur growth through enhanced productivity and efficiency."

The survey also revealed that a quarter of respondents felt flexibility and mobility with communications solutions are important, and more than 85 percent believe they need to provide access to communications solutions for remote employees.

"It is encouraging to see that SMBs are taking the initiative to learn more about cloud-based services," said Steve Taylor, editor-in-chief and publisher for Webtorials. "This is a needed first step for SMBs to realize the tools and solutions available to achieve the goals they stated as unattainable."

Scult earlier this month was named CEO of Fonality, the third chief executive for the company in the past two years. He replaced Dean Mansfield.