Books Slideshow: Ten Ways to Get the Most Out of the Cloud

Promote Cloud as Fifth Utility

Like power, water and gas, it can now establish an ecosystem for IT as a service.

Create a Cloud Vision

All top decision makers must agree on goals for differentiation, market-share growth, increased revenue and improved efficiencies.

Identify Cloud Use Cases

Map opportunities within business-process improvement, business intelligence, innovation and other essentials.

Do the Math

To get at true value, project overall revenues, expenses, growth potential and market share changes with and without deploying cloud solutions.

Ensure Alignment

Your choices for cloud solutions must take into account interoperability and integration with your existing environment.

Get Users On Board

Empower employees to participate in planning, so they don't feel like cloud has been forced upon them.

Give Clear Directions

Without clear marching orders for each group involved, planning sessions are meaningless.

Launch Trial Run

Try out apps before deploying enterprise-wide, to see if they fit overall strategies before spending big bucks.

Pursue Continuous Improvement

Solid metrics can keep raising standards for project release cycles, self-servicing users and cost cutting.

Define Governance

Establishing policies to ensure consistency in procurement, data usage, integration and other procedures.