CDW’s 2013 State of The Cloud Report

An organization’s decision to move IT to the cloud is daunting because it is a wholesale change in sourcing and delivery of solutions.

However, most organizations are planning to shift select capabilities there, and many already have.

The decision is often influenced by technology trends, including the growth of bring your own device (BYOD), the consumerization of IT and ever-closer ties between technology delivery and business outcomes.

This report is based on the views of 1,242 IT professionals surveyed by CDW. It explores what drives the shift to the cloud, what types of applications organizations are taking to the cloud and what benefits (beyond cost savings) they are achieving.

Key Considerations for Cloud:

• Tap a cross-section of your stakeholders for a thoughtful analysis of benefits and costs, and then select a cloud strategy consistent with your IT service fulfillment model
• Launch first with services that don’t pose unacceptable risks to your organization, aren’t business critical and where complexity of implementation is low –e.g., storage, UC, office productivity
• Leverage your users’ consumer experience: familiarity will maximize success of cloud adoption