Cloud computing is helping chief information officers (CIOs) to focus more on business strategy and innovation as the innovative technology frees them up from IT issues.

A study by CA Technologies, titled The Future Role of the CIO 2011, states that 60 per cent of CIOs believe that cloud computing is so efficient that they can shift their focus on other areas of their businesses.

In addition, the study claimed that cloud computing is allowing CIOs to acquire new skills such as better understanding of risk, negotiation, sales and commercial procurement.

Victor Cheng, vice president at CA Technologies South Asia, said that cloud computing is empowering CIOs to help them becoming more complete technology leader of tomorrow.

Speaking about the study, Cheng said, "It (cloud computing) is also breeding a new type of technology leader- one who clearly understands what adopting cloud computing can do for the organization and believes that cloud can empower them to become a more complete technology leader of tomorrow."

The study also stated that a large number of business leaders see cloud computing as a top innovation technology.