Clouds gathering

Reality check

The enthusiasm with which many CIOs are embracing cloud computing in no way detracts from satisfying their concerns around data security, accessibility and governance.

According to CBA’s Harte, these issues are not all settled all at once, but they are not all necessarily new, either. Security, for example, has been a concern with each new IT delivery model, including outsourcing, offshoring and virtualisation.

“Security is definitely a concern, but wherever there is a large arbitrage to be had people will decide whether or not they are going to have it," Harte says. “If they need further compliance, you can work with regulators and the risk community to figure out what to build back to ensure that robust security.”

Komatsu’s Harvison says it is important that CIOs investigate these models now to meet the agenda being placed upon them to do more with less, because hands-on experience is the only way to answer these concerns.

“The technology now is there, it's proven,” Harvison says. “And as long as you have some comfort around the security aspects and the partner you've chosen, then I don't think there's reasons to put it up as a barrier anymore.”

Tags cloud computingABSMelbourne ITamazon ec2CBAKomatsuMichael HarteCurtin UniversityPeter NikoletatosCity BeachPaul DownsGlenn GoresavvisSavillsJustin GillfeatherIan Harvison