Guiding Principles for Cloud Computing Adoption and Use
The drive for value, the need to reduce technology costs and the business demand for increased agility in how technology is used have caused enterprises to adopt cloud computing strategies. These strategies leverage the infrastructure, platforms or software services provided by cloud providers, transferring information technology (IT) from an in-house service to an outsourced capability. While enterprises have experience with the technology that makes cloud possible, and have used IT outsourcing to control costs or to enhance service levels, they have less experience transferring IT decision making away from the chief information officer (CIO) and technology specialists and to business unit leaders. Cloud represents a fundamental shift in how technology is acquired and managed in enterprises. This shift can result in pressure on the enterprise when its structure, culture, policies and practices, and enterprise architecture have not evolved to address the changes inherent in the cloud computing shift. This paper describes the nature of cloud computing and areas of pressure that, when not addressed, can increase risk to the enterprise. It also presents six principles for cloud computing adoption and use that can guide management toward more effective cloud implementation and use, reduction of pressure points, and mitigation of potential risk.
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