While consumers and enterprises hail \u201cthe cloud\u201d for its ability to provide flexible, low-cost and easily accessible computing power, traditional hardware and software providers tend to see the innovation somewhat differently. For these companies the cloud is a disruption of the highest order that threatens their competitiveness and in some cases their survival. As such, these companies must make dramatic changes in their strategies, operating models and governance approaches to succeed in this fast-growing cloud computing market.
\nWith the cloud supporting an ever-expanding collection of \u201canything-as-a-service,\u201d or XaaS, solutions, established hardware and software companies recognize they face one especially vexing challenge: figuring out how to develop appropriate operating models to capitalize on customer demands for cloud-based XaaS solutions while continuing to support traditional product-focused businesses that form their core offerings. <\/p>\n