As cloud computing and offshoring become mainstream, CIOs should take steps to manage inherent risks and unexpected costs during the cloud services revolution, according to a report.
A Gartner report also said during the next few years, market dynamics will determine whether cloud-enabled outsourcing will be the demise of traditional outsourcing, if it will lead to the convergence of services and products currently marketed “as a service,” or if it will result in next-generation outsourcing.
Cloud-driven business and IT services include all types of solution that are developed, bundled and packaged as outsourcing service offerings for which the business or IT service provider uses one or more cloud computing technologies within the solution's overall architecture.
Gartner refers to these services as “cloud-enabled outsourcing service offerings.” These services can be delivered directly by a cloud provider or via a service aggregator for the delivery of pre-engineered and configurable business solutions in a timely and cost-effective manner.
“Cloud service sourcing is immature and fraught with potential hazards. The hype around cloud computing services has increased interest, as well as caution, for CIOs trying to determine where, when and if cloud services can provide valuable outcomes for their businesses,” said Frank Ridder, research vice president at Gartner. "Cloud computing is driving discontinuity that introduces exciting opportunities and costly challenges. Organizations need to understand these changes and develop realistic cloud sourcing strategies and contracts that can reduce risk."
In the new cloud services scenario, flexibility, agility and innovation are design principles and, over time, service providers will succeed in delivering on these principles.