New TPI Research Report Shows Nearly Four out of Five Clients Have Had Internal Discussions About Cloud Computing

HOUSTON, July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- TPI, the largest sourcing data and advisory firm in the world and a unit of Information Services Group, Inc. (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), an industry leading information-based services company, today released a new TPI Research report into corporate IT decision-makers' plans for Cloud Computing in the immediate future.  Among the findings, 78 percent of clients indicated they have had internal discussions about Cloud Computing.

In response to this growing interest, TPI today launched a new business unit dedicated to advising clients interested in moving IT and business process operations to the Cloud as a way to reduce costs, improve flexibility or create scale to achieve their business objectives.  The new TPI Cloud Computing Business Solutions Unit, led by industry veteran Kevin Smilie, is uniquely positioned to provide companies with objective guidance on best practices for the identification, acquisition, transition and management of private and public Cloud solutions.  

"Nearly four out of five companies are considering Cloud Computing solutions to the complex business problems they face," said Kevin Smilie, Partner, TPI.  "Right now, though, only about three out of five are moving forward -- and most of those are working on pilot projects or low risk services to test the waters and identify the issues."

TPI Research on Cloud Computing

TPI recently surveyed more than 140 corporate IT decision-makers globally for their perspectives on Cloud Computing and where it fits into their service delivery strategies. The results indicate large corporations are interested in Cloud Computing because it offers a myriad of benefits without the exhaustive capital investments and resource-consuming projects characterizing the last four decades of corporate computing, not to mention the promise of cost reduction and nimbleness often discussed yet rarely achieved.

For small and mid-sized companies, Cloud Computing offers the promise of robust and highly scalable computing solutions nearly equal to those available to their much larger competitors, but without the same level of investment.

Yet Cloud Computing also poses risks.  The TPI Research found that five concerns consistently arise in corporations' discussions about migrating business services to the Cloud:

• 79 percent of respondents say data security is inadequate or unclear
• 50 percent fear non-compliance with regulatory requirements
• 50 percent fear business continuity or disaster recovery issues
• 49 percent are concerned about integrating Cloud solutions with legacy systems
• 49 percent are concerned that others may gain access to company data

These risks have caused many companies to focus their initial embrace on more secure private Clouds, particularly since they do not know who can currently protect their data and consistently deliver service to meet the high expectations of their business customers.

"Cloud Computing offers enormous opportunities for companies large and small," said Tom Lang, TPI Partner and Managing Director, CIO Services, Americas.  "But each enterprise must plan and adapt in a unique way to maximize its return on investment.  Making the right, informed decisions will ensure Cloud success.  But making the wrong ones can be costly and inefficient."

TPI Cloud Computing Business Solutions Unit

TPI has brought together strategic, transactional, financial, negotiation and service management advisory experience to establish the Cloud Computing Business Solutions Unit. Members have combined experience of more than 270 years in IT consulting and have worked on some of the largest Cloud Computing projects in the industry.  This unit will guide companies on the business and technology strategies, practices and policies they should use to maximize success.

"We engaged TPI to help us understand how to plan for increased use of the Cloud in the coming years," said Rob Gabel, Director of IT Strategy at Cardinal Health.  "We now have a five-year strategy that charts our course for skills, process, technology and facility changes so that Cardinal can balance its business goals and needs with the Cloud's real capabilities."

"Clients are struggling to separate real delivery capabilities from the glossy sales pitch," Smilie said.  "The TPI Cloud Computing Business Solutions Unit will provide the market data and expert advice enterprise leaders need to make the decisions that will dramatically affect how their companies do business."

To learn more about Cloud Computing and the new TPI Cloud Computing Business Solutions Unit, visit http://www.tpi.net/Hot/cloud-computing.html.  

About TPI

TPI, a unit of Information Services Group, Inc. (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), is the founder and innovator of the sourcing advisory industry, and the largest sourcing data and advisory firm in the world. We are expert at a broad range of business support functions and related research methodologies. Utilizing deep functional domain expertise and extensive practical experience, our accomplished industry experts collaborate with organizations to help them advance their business operations through the best combination of business process improvement, shared services, outsourcing and offshoring. In 2010, TPI ranked no. 1 in the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals Global Outsourcing 100: World's Best Outsourcing Advisors. For additional information, visit www.tpi.net.

About Information Services Group, Inc.

Information Services Group, Inc. (ISG) (Nasdaq: III) was founded in 2006 to build an industry-leading, high-growth, information-based services company by acquiring and growing businesses in advisory services, including strategy, implementation and management, and market information, including market measurement, analytics and related product and services. In November 2007, the company acquired TPI, the largest sourcing data and advisory firm in the world. Based in Stamford, Conn., ISG has a proven leadership team with global experience in information-based services and a track record of creating significant value for shareowners, clients and employees. For more, visit www.informationsg.com.

SOURCE TPI