TPI Joins Carnegie Mellon Cloud Computing Consortium

STAMFORD, Conn., June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- TPI, an Information Services Group company (ISG) (NASDAQ: III) and the leading independent sourcing data and advisory firm in the world, today announced it is joining a Carnegie Mellon University-led group developing the first set of standards for evaluating and comparing cloud computing services.

Comprised of IT services experts from business, government and academia, the Cloud Services Measurement Initiative Consortium (CSMIC) was established to address the need for industry-wide, globally accepted measures for calculating the benefits and risks of the myriad cloud-based offerings on the market. As a member, TPI will collaborate on research initiatives and contribute funding and resources.

The group's first initiative, the Service Measurement Index (SMI), is a dynamic framework of objective measures based on both quantitative and qualitative data that will generate ratings on criteria such as cost, quality, agility and security. The SMI, which will enable comparisons among cloud-based services as well as with internal and external service delivery options, will be released in mid-2011.

"IT buyers today have no way of judging the value of cloud computing services," said Steve Hall, Partner & Managing Director, Cloud Computing Services, TPI. "As a leader in helping clients navigate the cloud, we are excited to join this effort to provide an objective and comprehensive view of the experience they can expect based on the factors that matter to them."

TPI was the first independent sourcing advisor to launch a dedicated team to help clients evaluate and implement cloud computing. According to the research the firm conducted last fall, while 78 percent of clients have had discussions about how to take advantage of cloud-based services, only 5 percent of clients have a strategy to do so and only 20 percent have the resources to develop one.

For more information on cloud computing, please visit http://tpi.net/Hot/cloud-computing.html.  For more information on the CSMIC and SMI, please visit http://www.cloudcommons.com/web/cc/servicemeasurementindex.

About TPI

TPI, an Information Services Group company, is the founder and innovator of the sourcing advisory industry and the leading independent sourcing data and advisory firm in the world. TPI advisors are expert at a broad range of business support functions and related research methodologies. Drawing on their deep functional domain expertise and extensive practical experience, they collaborate with organizations across all major industries to help them advance their business operations through the best combination of business process improvement, shared services, outsourcing and offshoring. For additional information, visit www.tpi.net.

About Information Services Group

Information Services Group (ISG), founded in 2006, is a leading technology insights, market intelligence and advisory services company. ISG has three go-to-market brands: TPI, the leading independent data and sourcing advisory firm in the world; Compass, the premier independent global provider of business and information technology benchmarking, performance improvement, data and analytics services; and STA Consulting, a premier independent information technology advisor serving the public sector. The company has nearly 700 employees and operates in 21 countries. 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 additional information, visit www.informationsg.com.

SOURCE TPI