Explore the conference topics and stay ahead

Data and the ability to use it is the gold rush in the digital age. The proliferation of data and sources of data are re shaping organizations and business models. The legacy IT systems cannot support the sheer volume of data, and they are not flexible, scalable, and are far too expensive in this new age. The cloud is being increasingly relied on as a vehicle for agile, scalable and elastic solutions. To build competitive advantage and cut costs, CIOs and other IT leaders need to constantly adapt their strategies to leverage cloud capabilities. By 2020, more compute power will have been sold by cloud providers than sold and deployed into enterprise data centers. The role of the cloud as a carrier or vehicle for digital business is paramount.

1. How has cloud computing evolved since last year? Have you noticed any major changes in the market, strategy or technology?

Cloud computing has firmly become a multicloud journey. Public cloud is now the preferred model, and the growth is driven by new applications and cloud migrations. It has also become a baseline for other capabilities, such as the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and machine learning, programmable infrastructure and others. Developing a hybrid and multicloud strategy is an imperative. In addition, enterprises are implementing a cloud center of excellence.

2. What’s one of the biggest mistakes organizations make when it comes to cloud computing?

Replicating their mistakes from the data center into the cloud strategy. This makes cloud computing expensive and inefficient. Organizations that consider cloud computing as yet another technical architecture as opposed to a transformation platform are unable to get the full benefit. Some of the myths about cloud computing as purely a cost reduction opportunity miss out on the key benefits of agility and time-to-market opportunity that cloud computing provides.

3. How are IT leaders leveraging cloud computing to transform their organizations?

Some IT leaders increasingly view cloud computing as a digital transformation platform, not just an IT transformation platform. They have been able to use the cloud platform for launching digital products that need a global reach, scalability and continuous delivery of business capability to customers. Cloud is an enabling tool, used to reach new customers in their own market or create a new product to disrupt other markets.

4. Finish this sentence: If organizations don’t get their cloud computing right, they will …

… find it difficult to participate in markets and respond to their customers’ needs, leading to an existential threat to their organization. Since the year 2000, more than half of the Fortune 500 companies have gone bankrupt, been acquired or ceased to exist. Digital disruption is accelerating this phenomenon.

5. How will attending Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo 2020 help IT leaders with their priorities and key initiatives?

Gartner provides key insights and clarity into how to drive and sustain digital transformation, not just how to match the pace of change, but how to lead the pack. At Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo, we advise IT leaders on the future of cloud computing and on how to build cloud computing strategies, implement cloud management solutions, and use cloud as a platform for disruption and transformation. IT leaders are able to meet with experts and view vendor solutions to customize their advice for the organization. Furthermore, IT leaders are able to network with their peers and listen to case studies of how to build successful digital transformation strategies for the organization.