General RoundTable Cloud

The document discusses the disruptive change in information technology towards a service-based economy known as "cloud computing". It describes how economic, commercial, business, and technological conditions have combined to cause this shift. Some key points discussed include the benefits of economies of scale, pay-per-use utility billing, and faster innovation through componentization. Risks addressed include competitive pressures, managing the transition, issues of trust and transparency, and ensuring security of supply. The document frames cloud computing as a consequence of broader trends in IT towards delivery of computing resources and infrastructure as online services.