CFOs Gravitate Toward Cloud Computing, Clean Tech

Fifty-six percent of CFOs at U.S. technology companies are currently using cloud computing in some capacity, according to a survey by accounting firm BDO Seidman.

Ninety percent of them report their use of cloud computing will remain the same or increase this year. CFOs cite cost flexibility (32 percent), increased scalability (32 percent) and improved business ability (29 percent) as the driving reasons for embracing cloud computing instead of provisioning IT services from their own data center.

Sixty-four percent of tech CFOs said they are familiar with cloud computing. Still, despite the allure of cost savings, 44 percent of the CFOs surveyed have resisted the shift to the cloud and list security concerns (39 percent), the hassle and expense (29 percent) and limited application features (14 percent) as their reasons. 

Sixty-six percent of technology CFOs said they are interested in clean energy technology, while 34 percent say clean tech is not important to their business. Still, 43 percent of CFOs surveyed report that they do produce clean tech products or services, and 46 percent source products or services from clean technology vendors. Interestingly, 54 percent of multinational companies are likely to produce clean tech products or services, versus only 33 percent of U.S.-only companies.

Forty-one percent of CFOs report that the federal government causes the biggest impact on their level of involvement in clean technology, followed by state (17 percent) and local (16 percent) regulations and incentives.

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