Cloud computing luring many to IT contracting

Grazed from FierceCIO. Author: David Weldon.

While cloud-based computing continues to dominate technology headlines, its impact on changing the IT workforce is beginning to get more attention. Specifically, the increase in outsourcing due to cloud services, and a corresponding need for more contractors. FierceCIO has reported in recent weeks on the growing ranks of IT professionals being lured to contracting and consulting firms. Part of this trend is a simple reflection of the recession and the number of IT pros who lost full time jobs in its wake.

But the number of IT pros who will switch gears from full-time traditional employers to contracting firms and consultancies will increase this year and next year due to cloud computing. As noted recently at CIO Insight, "Cloud computing is the most disruptive force in IT outsourcing today…

Instead of signing outsourcing contracts that span five or more years, Craig Wright, a principal of Pace Harmon–an IT consulting firm that specializes in outsourcing–says the average outsourcing contract is now in the range of three to five years. What’s changing, says Wright, is that a lot of those outsourcing contracts involve multiple cloud service providers that are being asked to bid on process workloads as either primary contractors or subcontractors."…

Read more from the source @ http://www.fiercecio.com/story/cloud-computing-luring-many-it-contracting/2014-01-06