# Exploring the ‘Why’ of Cloud Computing Source: https://expedient.com/knowledgebase/blog/2013-03-12-exploring-the-why-of-the-cloud/ [](#) # Exploring the ‘Why’ of Cloud Computing March 12, 2013 3 min Read ### The motivation supporting the cloud computing revolution may not be as obvious you first suspect. The cloud computing revolution is hitting full gear. Fueled in a large part by the CIOs of small to medium sized companies, cloud strategies are being implemented at unbelievable rates - a trend that doesn’t look to be going away anytime soon. Just look at some of the industry forecasts: - CIOs are naming cloud computing as their number one priority for 20131 - Forrester predicts that the global market for cloud computing will grow from $40 billion to more than $241 billion by 2020.2 - Gartner predicts that the cloud will become so commonplace that IT professionals will stop calling it the cloud - and instead they will begin to use more specific terminology #### Cloud motivations are not all tied to saving money While these forecasts for cloud computing adoption rates are impressive, they certainly are nothing new – as industry forecasts about the impending cloud revolution have been well documented. However, a recent [Forrester Research Paper](http://www.gartner.com/DisplayDocument?doc_cd=226469). takes these forecasts, and asks one important question: “Why?” – As in why are companies turning to the cloud at such an impressive rate. As noted by the Forrester Research Report, cloud adoption is up despite not always proving to be a less expensive alternative. In fact, many CIOs have already made investments in more traditional forms of IT; and any additional investments in the cloud could appear counter intuitive. On top of this, cloud computing opens up more opportunity for additional IT – meaning that through the cloud “enterprises will increase their consumption of IT, which will raise overall IT costs, not lower them.” #### Then why the cloud? The answer to this question has to move beyond the mere promise of cost savings. There is a reason that Gartner states “The cloud will change IT as nothing before it has.” And that is because the cloud offers businesses the opportunity to do more things faster and better: - **_Scalability_** : Data and application resources can be quickly provisioned when and where you need them - **_Availability_** _:_ With the right [cloud provider](https://www.expedient.com/cloud-computing/ "Cloud Computing"), you can ensure your resources remain continuously available and always secure - **_Less Maintenance_** :  Hardware, applications and bandwidth are managed by the provider - **_Expert Service_** : At Expedient, our [cloud computing services](https://www.expedient.com/cloud-computing/ "Cloud Computing") are continuously monitored and maintained by our onsite staff of expert data center technicians. For expert insight and to uncover whether you are prepared to take full advantage of everything [cloud computing](https://www.expedient.com/cloud-computing/ "Cloud Computing") has to offer, Expedient can help. Download our [cloud computing guide](http://go.expedient.com/l/12902/2012-06-13/vqw2) for more information. **Sources** 1. [http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2304615](http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/2304615) 2. [http://softwarestrategiesblog.com/2012/01/17/roundup-of-cloud-computing-forecasts-and-market-estimates-2012/](http://softwarestrategiesblog.com/2012/01/17/roundup-of-cloud-computing-forecasts-and-market-estimates-2012/) #### #### #### #### [ ![Joe Palian](https://res.cloudinary.com/dvlpy3tua/image/upload/fl_sanitize/uploads/joe-palian.jpg) Joe PalianSenior Client Advisor ](/knowledgebase/blog/authors/joe-palian) [Cloud Computing](/knowledgebase/blog/tag/cloud%20computing) ### Related Posts [ #### The VMware Wait Tax: Why Every Quarter of Delay... Inaction on a VMware migration is widely treated as a neutral position, a de... Learn More ](/knowledgebase/blog/2026-08-04-the-vmware-wait-tax-why-every-quarter-of-delay-has-a-price-tag/)[ #### The Great Inversion What was easy is now hard. What was hard is now easy. {% include blog-key-... Learn More ](/knowledgebase/blog/2026-07-29-the-great-inversion/)[ #### Your New Cloud Strategy: Rebalancing for Cost a... {% include blog-key-takeaways.html items=page.key\_takeaways %} A few years a... Learn More ](/knowledgebase/blog/2026-07-15-your-new-cloud-strategy-rebalancing-for-cost-and-performance/) ## Subscribe to Our Blog VMware September 29th, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET ## It’s Time to Decide Your VMware Path [Join us →](https://go.expedient.com/VMWarePath) ### VMware September 29th, 2026 at 1:00 PM ET ## It’s Time to Decide Your VMware Path [Join us →](https://go.expedient.com/VMWarePath)