For the first time, CXO’s agree that technology is the most important external force impacting their enterprise. The main technologies most likely to revolutionise their business are often identified as cloud computing, mobile solutions, the Internet of Things and cognitive computing.

As business leaders use technology to experiment and innovate, the role of cloud is changing – it is maturing and becoming the platform for innovation and business value.

IDC predicts that by 2020 clouds will stop being referred to as ‘public’ and ‘private’ and ultimately they will stop being called clouds altogether. It is simply the new way business is done and IT is provisioned.

> See also: How cloud has redefined the world of the CMO

Here are some of the top challenges for the c-suite and why they should be fully embracing the cloud.

How businesses think of traditional IT

Traditionally IT teams would be found racking and stacking servers, installing network switches testing data centres’ backup generators, troubleshooting failed mainframe jobs.

Generally in large organisations IT teams have had to struggle to operate complex systems, let alone deliver new capabilities. Here lies the main frustration. Reporting back to the board that it won’t be possible to bring in new capabilities that will make the company more competitive isn’t ideal.

Moving the needle from traditional IT environments toward new world IT models is easier than you might think.

Bringing change to the enterprise

How many times have you heard one of these in the last year?

New CIO/CTO coming on board; never ending complexity and immense cost pressures force a change; IT Executive announces Cloud First Program; IT is an inhibitor or drag on new business ventures.

We find that one of these external factors triggers an opportunity for IT in the cloud.

Where’s the value in going to the cloud?

Cloud allows you to test a wide range of new client experiences to find the magical moments for your clients. It rapid access to innovative technologies (IoT, Cognitive, Predictive Analytics) to transform client experiences.

> See also: 3 tips for deploying enterprise applications in the cloud

Specifically cloud can help in the following areas; financial flexibility, simplify IT, productivity step change, simplify transformation.

Firstly, cloud provides well documented and ready to use IT Services to focus on business outcomes. Secondly, cloud provides cost efficient standardised IT Services, in areas in which a differentiation is not required.

Cloud also provides a flexible cost model allowing organisation to move between CAPEX and OPEX.

Lastly, Cloud provides a flexible set of private, public and hybrid cloud services to enable incremental transformation.

While many companies recognise that migration to the cloud is now a necessity, it is more important to be aware that the true, long-term business value can only be derived from what you actually operate in the cloud, and this is the true challenge for businesses and their IT departments as we look towards 2016 and beyond.

Sourced from Sebastian Krause, General Manager, IBM Cloud Europe