Cloud Computing Is Democratizing Computing Power and Traditional IT Barriers of Cost, Time, Quality, Scale, and

BOSTON, MA, Oct 08 (MARKET WIRE) --
A new study, recently published by Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company
(NYSE: HHS), revealed top performing companies that have adopted cloud
computing have reduced IT costs 18% and data center power consumption by
16%.

The new report, "Business Adoption of Cloud Computing: Reduce Cost,
Complexity and Energy Consumption," examined the business adoption of
cloud computing of 184 organizations, including small-to-medium and
enterprise businesses.

The survey revealed the top business pressures driving the adoption of
cloud computing include:

-- Overall cost of IT infrastructure
-- Need to enhance competitive advantage
-- Lack of flexibility in the current IT environment
-- Need to support additional services or users

"Small businesses and startups are adopting cloud computing to break
down traditional technological and financial barriers in the delivery of
new categories of software innovation," said Bill Lesieur, research
director, Aberdeen. "Larger businesses are cutting costs with cloud
computing while embarking on a transformation of their IT service
delivery models based on SOA architectures and cloud computing."

Survey results show top performing organizations shared several common
characteristics, including:

-- 77% monitor cloud applications for efficiency and use
-- 75% have a cloud team or task force
-- 69% use a formal cloud evaluation process
-- 62% have a formal education plan for training cloud team

Cloud computing is changing the role of IT from predominantly one of
maintenance to one of innovation enabler through the new service delivery
model of cloud services. Consequently, top companies are realizing the
critical need to establish a governance model around SOA architectures and
cloud-based service delivery.

To obtain a complimentary copy of the report, visit:
http://www.aberdeen.com/link/sponsor.asp?cid=6220.

Please join our new LinkedIn Group, Green IT & Sustainability Research at:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2170092.

End user organizations can also contact us for additional information,
discussion or to join our survey community via: green@aberdeen.com

Visit Research.Aberdeen.com for additional access to complimentary
Information Technology Research.

About Aberdeen Group, a Harte-Hanks Company

Aberdeen provides fact-based research and market intelligence that
delivers demonstrable results. Having queried more than 30,000 companies
in the past two years, Aberdeen is positioned to educate users to action:
driving market awareness, creating demand, enabling sales, and delivering
meaningful return-on-investment analysis. As the trusted advisor to the
global technology markets, corporations turn to Aberdeen for insights that
drive decisions.

As a Harte-Hanks Company, Aberdeen plays a key role of putting content in
context for the global direct and targeted marketing company. Aberdeen's
analytical and independent view of the "customer optimization" process of
Harte-Hanks (Information - Opportunity - Insight - Engagement -
Interaction) extends the client value and accentuates the strategic role
Harte-Hanks brings to the market. For additional information, visit
Aberdeen or call (617) 854-5200, or to learn more about Harte-Hanks, call
(800) 456-9748.

Copyright 2009 Aberdeen Group, Inc., a Harte-Hanks Company
451 D Street, Suite 710
Boston, Massachusetts 02210-1928
Telephone: (617) 854-5200
Fax: (617) 723-7897
www.aberdeen.com

Media Contact:
Bill Lesieur
Aberdeen Harte-Hanks
(617) 854-5244
bill.lesieur@aberdeen.com

Copyright 2009, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

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