Cloud projects consistently focus on the risk incurred through technology change but too often neglect the business benefits which can flow from the use of cloud services. With the LOB manager’s enthusiasm for cloud services increasing, the way that a CIO evaluates and plans for cloud services is changing. The CIO must identify and validate clear business benefits as well as mitigating the impact of cultural change, new commercial aspects of service provider engagement models and multi-vendor dependability.

• What are the unexpected benefits which have been reported by early adopters of cloud services?
• Cloud is now for business, not just an IT solution. How does this change the way a CIO is involved in cloud services acquisition and management?
• Cloud-based solutions are dependent on a chain of service elements, and the reliability of the end-to-end service can be affected by the non-performance of one element
• Selection of a service based on a vertically integrated cloud stack can minimise this risk                    

             - What is the current and future role of the service’s supporting ecosystem of providers and partners?
             - Can I select a cloud provider simply by assessing the seller of the service, or does the
               ecosystem provide a better assessment?