Inthis book, leading CEOs, CIOs and experts from international corporationsexplore the role of digitalization and cloud-based processes as the mainbusiness drivers of the 21st century. Focusing on how to get started withdigitalization and how to handle the technologies involved, they employanalyses and practical case studies to demonstrate how to unleash the potentialoffered by the cloud, and how to achieve the most critical success factors quality and security through the right partnerships. Readers will discoverwhy the cloud will soon take over the drivers seat in cars, and why HeinekenCIO Anne Teague claims that innovation is impossible without high-quality IT.The book reveals what IT managers can learn from Silicon Valley and Chinatoday, and why Deutsche Telekom CEO Tim Hoettges believes Europes futuredepends on successful digitalization. In a closing strategic assessment, theeditor Ferri Abolhassan presents the cloud as the essential backbone ofdigitalization. In short, the book provides readers the first comprehensive,high-level assessment of cloud-based digital transformation in the era ofIndustry 4.0.

Dr.Ferri Abolhassan is a member of the T-Systems Board of Management, responsiblefor the IT Division and Telekom Security. From 1985 to 1988, Dr. FerriAbolhassan completed a bachelors degree in computer science at SaarlandUniversity in Saarbrücken, Germany. After graduating, he worked at Siemens andIBM prior to completing his doctorate in 1992. He held various senior positionsat SAP and IDS Scheer, before joining T-Systems in September 2008 as Head ofSystems Integration and a member of the Board of Management. In late 2010, Abolhassantook on the role of Head of Production, before becoming Director of Delivery in2013. In January 2015, Abolhassan was appointed Director of the T-Systems ITDivision, with responsibility for approximately 30,000 employees and some 6,000customers. Moreover, to address new IT imperatives, Deutsche Telekom hascreated an organizational unit for security solutions, to be headed up byAbolhassan. The new business will combine all of Deutsche Telekoms securityactivities, and will market its cyber security offerings.

PursuingDigital Transformation Driven by the Cloud.- TheRole of IT As an Enabler of Digital Transformation.- TheDigital Transformation of Industry The Benefit for Germany.- Theses on Digitalization.- TheCloud in the Driver's Seat.- TheCloud in Practice.- No Innovationwithout Quality.- TheCounterculture of Silicon Valley.- Chinaas the Frontrunner in Digitalization.- TheCloud Drives Harmonization and Standardization.- 100-PercentSecurity A Desirable Goal?.- Conclusionand Outlook.