The improved ability to scale infrastructure up or down to meet dynamically changing and new business needs increases business ability while shared IT infrastructure not only reduces hardware acquisition costs but also results in significant savings in IT staffing costs and data center space, power, and cooling.

FORBES: NetApp Was Cloud Before Cloud Was Cool, Stock Headed To $64

Netflix was an early-adopter of these types of services and ultimately has become a success story for leveraging shared resources at the start of testing a business model before investing in dedicated hardware.

FORBES: How Cloud Computing Can Boost Developing Nations

As part of a Shared University Research Award granted by IBM Research, the company will provide Rensselaer with Watson hardware, software and support services.

FORBES: IBM's Watson Heads To University

As part of a Shared University Research (SUR) Award granted by IBM Research, IBM will provide Rensselaer with Watson hardware, software and training.

ENGADGET: Watson heading to college, honing administrator-pranking algorithms

These companies, including Restoration Hardware and Sharper Image, anonymously pool intelligence on shoppers so they can prospect for buyers from the shared data.

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