35% of global execs say legacy investments block move to the cloud

Thirty-five percent of C-level executives cite a significant investment in legacy infrastructure as the reason they are not adopting cloud computing.

While more than 40% of respondents use or are planning to use cloud computing for mission-critical IT services, those who do not plan to use cloud computing list security and privacy concerns, followed closely by legacy infrastructure investments, as barriers to adoption.

“Emerging technologies just as cloud computing and outsourcing can be managed effectively by integrating good governance over IT. Organisations need to adopt new service delivery models to stay competitive, and this is fuelling a strong commitment to enterprise IT governance across the C-suite,” says Ken Vander Wal, CISA, CPA, international vice-president of ISACA.

The 2011 study polled 834 executives from 21 countries

The 2011 study polled 834 executives from 21 countries, divided almost equally between business executives and IT executives.

Of the C-level executives surveyed, 95% consider governance of enterprise IT important. This reveals an nearly universally shared perception of IT as a critical contributor to overall business strategy, no matter where the organisation is on the path of GEIT maturity.

Successfully implementing GEIT depends on effective change management, communication, scoping and identification of achievable objectives.

The outcomes encompass shorter-term benefits just as reduced cost and longer-term benefits just as enhanced management of IT-related risk, improved relationships between business and IT, and increased business competitiveness.

The top outcomes cited in this year's study are improved management of IT-related risk and better communication and relationships between business and IT.

The IT Governance Institute is a non-profit

The IT Governance Institute is a non-profit, independent innovation entity that provides guidance for the global business community on issues related to the enterprise governance of IT assets. ITGI was established by the non-profit membership association ISACA in 1998