Only eight per cent of UK organisations have adopted or are planning to adopt grid computing, according to a survey by technology integration company Morse. 

The poll of 100 IT managers found that the decision was mainly down to their respective boards' attitude, and that 88 per cent of company directors rate grid computing as a 'low priority'.

Grid computing is designed to save money and increase data sharing by creating a cluster of servers that pool their resources and act as a single computer.

"The main thing holding grid computing back from mainstream adoption is the lack of a clear definition of what this technology actually is," said Peter Critchley, strategy director at Morse.

Almost a third of those surveyed believe that grid computing is too expensive, while just over a third feared that it would be too complicated. A third are also worried about security issues.

"Most businesses will spend thousands of pounds buying new servers but then have their heads in the sand when it comes to getting full use of them," said Critchley.

The research was conducted for Morse by Vanson Bourne.