In 2017, TPRM Forum conducted a survey of 42 Technology Vendor Management executives. The goal of the research was to understand the issues impacting technology VMO organizations and the actions being taken to successfully meet the challenge. Agile Development & Cloud Governance were identified as the leading operational challenges.

Fast forward 14 months and Cloud Governance has emerged as the top operational challenge for Technology VMO and IT leaders. Cloud expenditures are consistently running 2 to 3 times greater than budgeted with little insight or control. Technology VMO leaders are best positioned to help CIO’s establish the necessary diligence to budget, forecast and deliver cloud efficiencies.

Technology VMO leaders must embrace Cloud Governance as a core discipline alongside contract, performance, financial and relationship management. Establishing a centralized cloud governance capability to monitor cloud ‘uptake’ enables the technology VMO to govern, analyze and recommend efficiencies. The transparency achieved enables VMO leaders provide IT leadership clearly document consumption patterns by business unit and cost center, forming a platform for potential ‘charge back’ capabilities and greater corporate cloud accountability.