Cloud computing will create intense competition in the business workplace

According to a recent Computerworld blog, as cloud computing continues to see increased adoption rates, it will create intense competition in the business world.

The blog's author, Robert Mitchell, argues that by 2020, businesses failing to "pare their legacy architecture" will experience disruption from smaller companies that have taken advantage of the managed IT service.

"They will be unencumbered by a legacy of complexity and costly solutions and will be narrowly focused on their core competencies," said Frank Wander, senior vice president and CIO at Guardian Life Insurance.

According to Wander, a gradual migration from application and platforms in the cloud to data centers in the cloud will take place in the near future.

"You won't even need to buy a data center - you will just log in and buy a seat. Think about how much more cost effective that is," argued Wander.

Many companies have supported Wander's argument, switching to fewer data centers or adopting centers in the cloud. As part of President Barack Obama's proposed 2012 federal budget, the government will close more than 800 of its 2,100 centers by 2015 and replace many with cloud computing.