CIOs use cloud to avoid business 'lock-in'

One of the primary goals of a chief information officer is to make his or her business adaptable to the newest technologies. However, while business technology innovations may increase productivity, their initial price tags may be very high, prompting CIOS to search for cost-effective solutions.

A cheap alternative may be the cloud. Furthermore, cloud computing architecture allows CIOs to make enterprise computing more flexible, according to a report by IT Web. Virtualized data platforms create greater interoperability between competing software applications, and are a key component in helping a growing business add more computing power quickly.

The news source reports that the main features the cloud emphasizes are "flexibility, agility and innovation." These are the essential components of the cloud's scalability, which the media organization claims will be the most attractive feature for CIOs looking to integrate the cloud.

Another fundamental cloud characteristic that allows for scalability while preventing IT lock-in is standardization. According to Government Computing News, a standardized cloud will allow applications software to be integrated across may different platforms. Recently, the National Institute of Standards and Technology addressed this issue by creating its own advisory board.