Experts discuss ways to make cloud computing innovative

Cloud computing, once seen as a way to cut costs, is now being considered as a way to increase innovation. Companies need to think beyond simply running the same systems in the cloud as they have in their data centers. The value of automating business processes is decreasing, even though it is cheaper to run IT in a cloud. (Read the article Innovation, Not Cost, New Cloud Battle Cry at Information Week online.) It is also important to note that cloud computing can leave companies vulnerable to hackers. The damage that can be done is best demonstrated by a massive Google outage this year that was caused by hackers attacking the firm's cloud-computing infrastructure. (Read the article The Curse of Cloud Security at CSO online.)