Opportunities and Risks

Cloud computing is still a very young and dynamic field characterized by a buzzing industry. Virtually every organization in the industry and even parts of the public sector are taking on cloud computing today, either as a provider or as a consumer. Primarily US-based companies, such as Amazon, Google, or Microsoft are currently shaping the cloud services market. But many smaller companies also show a lot of commitment in this field. There is no doubt that cloud computing is a disruptive technology which has the potential to change our understanding of how to provision and leverage IT services in a fundamental and sustainable way. The effects might even be comparable to the introduction of the personal computer some 25 years ago.