InformationWeek Analytics New Research Finds Nearly 70% of Respondents Will Calculate the ROI of Cloud Computing

But top factor considered is initial capital expenses or savings, rather than the operational expenses that comprise bulk of cloud costs

PRNewswire-FirstCall
SAN FRANCISCO
Jun 24, 2010

InformationWeek Analytics, the leading service for peer-based IT research and analysis, today announced the release of its research report: Cloud ROI: Calculating Costs, Benefits, Returns, including exclusive analysis of the approach respondents' organizations use to quantify risks (such as project failure or budget overruns) as cash flow in an ROI analysis. Nearly 400 business technology professionals weighed in on how they weigh costs of outsourcing vs. on-premises delivery of IT services. The report author, Jonathan Feldman, is the director of IT for the City of Asheville, NC, and a longtime InformationWeek and Network Computing contributor.

Research Summary:

Think that sneaking feeling of irrelevance is just your imagination? Maybe, maybe not. Our InformationWeek Analytics Cloud ROI Survey gave a sense of how nearly 400 business technology professionals see the financial picture shaking out for public cloud services. One interesting finding: IT is more confident that business units will consult them on cloud decisions than our data suggests they should be.

  Findings:

  --  34% of organizations report using SaaS now vs. 29% saying they are not
      using any cloud computing.
  --  The No. 1 cloud dissenter is the CIO, cited by 32%. Surprisingly, just
      2% say the CISO is the loudest voice against the cloud.
  --  45% say the ability to quickly roll out business technology is the top
      draw of the cloud.
  --  Business units are over three times as likely as IT (21% vs. 6%) to
      say that IT doesn't get involved in cloud initiatives.

For full access to the research data, download now: http://analytics.informationweek.com/abstract/5/3155/Cloud-Computing/research- cloud-roi.html

"Our data shows that IT is more engaged in public cloud decisions than some pundits would suggest. That's the good news," says Lorna Garey, content director for InformationWeek Analytics. "The bad news is that we're being dazzled by CapEx savings and failing to do the three- to five-year calculations that business services demand."

InformationWeek Analytics is a subscription-based service, offering peer-based technology research. Its site currently houses more than 900 reports and briefs, and includes a dedicated area where technology professionals can access complete issues of InformationWeek Magazine. More than one hundred new reports are slated for release in 2010. InformationWeek Analytics members have access to:

  --  The full InformationWeek Analytics library of reports
  --  Peer based research and analysis to guide buying and implementing
      decisions
  --  Over 20 technology and IT business categories
  --  New reports launched every week
  --  Signature reports, such as the InformationWeek Salary Survey,
      InformationWeek 500 and the State of Security report

For more information on our membership programs please visit: http://analytics.informationweek.com/join

About InformationWeek Business Technology Network (http://www.informationweek.com/)

The InformationWeek Business Technology Network provides IT executives with unique analysis and tools that parallel their work flow--from defining and framing objectives through to the evaluation and recommendation of solutions. Anchored by InformationWeek, the multimedia powerhouse that looks across the enterprise, the network scales across the most critical technology categories with online properties like DarkReading.com (security), IntelligentEnterprise.com (application architecture), NetworkComputing.com (networking and communications) and PlugintotheCloud.com (cloud computing). The network also provides focused content for key IT targets, such as CIOs, developers, SMBs and IT Support Managers via InformationWeek Global CIO, Dr. Dobb's, InformationWeek SMB and HDI, as well as vital vertical industries with InformationWeek Financial Services, Government and Healthcare sites. Content is at the nucleus of our information distribution strategy--IT professionals turn to our experts and communities to stay informed, get advice and research technologies to make strategic business decisions.

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UBM TechWeb, the global leader in technology media and professional information, enables people and organizations to harness the transformative power of technology. Through its core businesses - media solutions, marketing services, and professional information - UBM TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed brands, applications, and services in the technology market. More than 14.5 million business and technology professionals (CIOs, IT and IT Support managers, Web and digital professionals, software and game developers, government decision makers, and telecom providers) actively participate in UBM TechWeb's communities. UBM TechWeb brands include: global face-to-face events such as Interop, Game Developers Conference (GDC), Web 2.0, Black Hat, and VoiceCon; large-scale online networks such as InformationWeek, Light Reading, and Gamasutra; research, training, and certification services, including HDI, Pyramid Research, and InformationWeek Analytics; and market-leading magazines such as InformationWeek and Wall Street & Technology. UBM TechWeb is part of UBM, a global provider of media and information services for professional B2B communities and markets.

  Contact:    Art Wittmann
              VP & Managing Director InformationWeek Analytics
              415-947-6361
              awittmann@techweb.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: sbalser@techweb.com

SOURCE: UBM TechWeb

CONTACT: Art Wittmann, VP & Managing Director InformationWeek Analytics,
+1-415-947-6361, awittmann@techweb.com

Web Site: http://www.ubmtechweb.com/