Cloud computing is increasingly being seen as a strategic initiative. Not only are most executives now planning to adopt some form of cloud computing for their organizations, they also expect these technology services to help position their organizations to succeed in today’s tough economy.
The findings of a new survey of 900 executives released by KPMG International and Forbes Insight show a majority, 81%, believe their organizations have already moved some business activities to the cloud and expect 2012 investment “to skyrocket, with some companies planning to spend more than a fifth of their IT budget on cloud next year,” the study finds.
Eighty-seven percent of executives said that the changes delivered by cloud will be “significant.” This view is consistent among companies of all sizes and whether the respondents work within IT functions or business units.
The survey also finds that most cloud adopters get their feet wet with Software as a Service (SaaS) implementations. Of the respondents, 46% of planned implementations are in a SaaS environment.
The results of this survey demonstrate that the implications for cloud computing reach far beyond the walls of IT departments and into boardrooms. Cloud projects often occur as tactical arrangements, either prompted by IT for greater access to tools and platforms, or by lines of business to acquire services or capabilities as needed, and often off-budget. The time has come, however, where cloud needs to be considered as a strategic investment.
Extract from Forbes article, details at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/joemckendrick/2011/10/04/cloud-computing-set-to-skyrocket-driven-by-economy-survey/
