Cloud Computing: Is the ROI worth it?

Grazed from AssociationsNow. Author: Anita Ferrer.

A new survey shows that business executives are questioning whether the advantages of cloud computing outweigh the uncertainties it brings. You’ve heard about the vaunted benefits of cloud computing, including improved efficiency, reduced costs, and better results. But a recent survey shows growing uncertainty among executives about security, integration, and return on investment.

The survey of IT professionals, conducted by The Open Group, determined that measuring return on investment (ROI) is seen as increasingly difficult. Organizations that reported having measurement mechanisms in place decreased from 30 percent in 2011 to a little more than 19 percent last year. Cost, quality, and speed were the most popular ROI metrics…

According to Forbes contributor Joe McKendrick, the survey results prove cloud computing’s ROI has become even more intangible than before. More than half of the respondents said they think cloud ROI would be hard to evaluate and justify in their organizations. Where do the doubts come from? It’s the shaky balance between costs and resources…

Read more from the source @ http://associationsnow.com/2013/02/cloud-computing-is-the-return-on-investment-worth-it/