Length of Cloud Application Use on Functionality Expectation, Usability, Privacy, and Security: A Case of Google Docs

Abstract

Background: Newcomers to cloud applications typically have to overcome concerns of privacy (confidentiality control) and security (safekeeping). On the one hand, end-users may be accustomed to cloud applications’ privacy and security (habituation). On the other hand, these applications quickly adapt to end-user needs on those concerns (reciprocal habituation). Does the old proverb “Custom makes all things easy” apply to privacy and security concerns about cloud application use? Method: This study focuses on Google Docs as an example of standardized, common cloud applications and collects data from 211 of its users. Results: The results show that length of use has significant associations with better usability perception and increased functionality expectation. In turn, improved usability perception leads to decreased security risk concern, while increased functionality expectation increases privacy concerns. Interestingly, usefulness perception is not influenced by privacy concern. Conclusions : Overall, the length of Google Docs use is associated with higher usefulness and increased adoption through greater usability and decreased security concern. Thus, when it comes to standardized, common cloud applications, the old proverb is valid with some exception. Also, “custom” is mutual between cloud applications and their users.