Cloud computing is a concept that’s been around since the 60s. It was only in this century, though, that it became a mainstream reality. What was a somewhat nebulous concept back then has become a multi-billion dollar industry in less than two decades.
According to Gartner, 90% of businesses will use some form of cloud services by 2022. Gartner put the value of the market at the end of 2018 at $175.8 billion and is projecting a growth rate of 17.3% this year.
Factor in that data storage requirements are growing at a rate of 40% per year, and it becomes clear that cloud services are set for a huge upturn. It’ll be interesting to see how the industry develops as it matures.
What Can We Expect in 2019?
More Focus on Cloud Security
Security has always been an issue for cloud providers. With the 2018 implementation of GDPR, it’s becoming even more critical. Companies servicing the EU cannot afford to make mistakes here because the penalties are extensive.
As a result, cloud providers also have to up their game and ensure that they comply with the GDPR in terms of the protection of data.
We’ll See More Customized Solutions
Anyone who has ever stored a document on Google Drive will understand the risks of using a public cloud. While the documents themselves are not accessible to all and sundry, they’re not entirely private either. You often get requests for access to the documents from unauthorized people.
That’s bad enough if you’re storing your own information, but could be disastrous if you’re storing a client’s information. Not all companies can take the risk. That is why we’re seeing more hybrid cloud solutions that blend private and public cloud solutions.
The hybrids offer more control over the information. Over time, this will progress into multi-cloud solutions, where companies can choose to use any combination of hybrid, private, and public clouds.
Backing Up Data
Most companies currently use cloud technologies to backup essential data. We can expect more of the budget to be allocated for this purpose going forward. With the increasing number of cyber attacks, backing up data is an essential task.
Cold storage methods are available but have problems of their own. Cloud models offer a more cost-effective way to back up data and make it possible to restore it from anywhere.
Say Goodbye to Servers
Okay, not really, but companies are increasingly buying into the concept of serverless computing. It’s cost-effective for companies because they only pay for the capacity that they need and don’t have to worry about configuration.
They can upgrade or downgrade at will, and have access to a range of different tools to help them process data more effectively.
Final Notes
Cloud computing is something that will become even more important moving forward. It enables companies to access more convenient data storage, infrastructure, and tools that they find helpful.
It’s a cost-effective way for companies to upgrade their capabilities without having to spend too much on new tech. Cloud computing will only continue to evolve.
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