Cloud Usage Survey

What kinds of software are enterprises running in the cloud today, and what do they plan to run there in the near future? This is just one area addressed in Cloudrise: Rewards and Risks at the Dawn of Cloud Computing, an essential new research report by Jeanne G. Harris and Allen E. Alter of Accenture’s Institute for High Performance (you may recognize Alter’s name from this site – he’s an alumnus of Baseline, who presided over our research for several years). “Cloud computing has entered a new phase in its brief history,” says the report. “Right now, most attention is focused on how cloud computing can reduce IT costs and help companies meet pressing but often short-term computing needs. But wise executives will look beyond these short-term opportunities to determine how clouds can help their organizations become more competitive. Operational excellence will be a critical factor for success in coming years.” The Cloudrise report draws on a survey of 669 executives in nine countries and over 20 industries.