Since the term cloud computing was first introduced more than 20 years ago, the industry has grown exponentially and is expected to continue to widen its influence on global businesses. Microsoft, IBM, Google, and Amazon were cloud computing trailblazers when they started promoting the concept back in the mid-2000s. Gartner predicts end-user spending on public cloud services will grow 20.4% in 2024, from $563.6 billion to $678.8 billion.
Cloud computing continues to provide for the needs of adopters — and it presents its own unique challenges, too. Here are five of the most pressing trends affecting the future of cloud computing.
1. Edge Computing Continues to Gain Traction
With the continued rise of the Internet of Things (IoT), more companies are utilizing edge computing. Market intelligence company International Data Corporation forecasts that edge computing investments will grow to nearly $317 billion by 2026.
Edge computing is the data processing that occurs as close as possible to where the data is created, alleviating strain on the central data center while improving processing speed and efficiency at the device. It’s crucial to the use of IoT devices and applications — think autonomous vehicles or smart appliances — as it allows them to provide real-time analysis.
In traditional cloud computing, data would travel from the device to the central data center and then back. By combining edge and cloud computing, businesses can leverage the cloud for less time-sensitive tasks while ensuring more urgent data is processed quickly.
2. IT Pros Are Embracing Multicloud Solutions
A study by S&P Global Market Intelligence found that 98% of enterprises use or plan to use more than one cloud infrastructure provider, while 96% said they use or plan to use more than one cloud application provider.
There are many reasons for this. For one, different cloud providers provide different expertise and specialties, so a company may use one for storage and one for development. It’s also a key part of incorporating redundancies, ensuring a company doesn’t become dependent on just one provider. Both allow for better operations optimization and data control.
“A single cloud provider is no longer enough, and we are seeing a trend where organizations are embracing two or more cloud providers,” says Art Sedighi, faculty member at Purdue Global. “This trend is also being reinforced by the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI), which requires significant computing capacity.”
3. AI and Cloud Computing Are Evolving Together
The growth of artificial intelligence in diverse industries is one of the top trends in technology today. The AI market in general is expected to reach $1,345.2 billion by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate of 36.87% from 2023 on, according to Markets and Markets.
As the AI market continues to expand, it is accelerating the adoption of cloud computing while also enabling cloud providers to enhance platform solutions and services, according to a Deloitte researcher. AI relies on big data processing to improve its services through machine learning, so most types of hardware do not have the capabilities to run AI applications efficiently. Thus, cloud computing is essential for the growth of AI.
“This new push for AI is born out of the cloud, and that is due to the vast agile infrastructure available in the cloud that has allowed experimentation and rapid progress toward improvements and growth in the industry,” Sedighi says.
4. Industry Clouds Are on the Rise
Cloud providers are now starting to offer industry-specific applications and functionality, known as industry cloud, to help streamline the migration of both legacy and on-premises systems to the cloud and tailor its use to specific verticals.
While heavily regulated industries such as finance and health care were early adopters of industry clouds, they are gaining traction across all industry sectors, according to a Deloitte report. In fact, in their survey of 500 cloud leaders across industries, 95% of respondents agreed or completely agreed that “industry clouds provide a great opportunity to accelerate their digital future.” And in a survey of North American and European enterprises, Gartner found that nearly 39% of respondents said their companies had started the adoption of industry cloud platforms.
That is not to say the adoption is happening without some concerns. According to tech solutions and consulting firm Stefanini Group, some of the challenges associated with industry cloud platforms include:
- Privacy and security risks
- Difficulties with integration
- High starting costs
- Lack of flexibility
5. Demand for Cloud Professionals Continues to Grow
The increased use of cloud computing means greater demand for cloud professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of computer and IT occupations is projected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2032. According to a Forrester report, more than 50% of cloud decision-makers are either hiring new staff or retraining existing staff to better optimize their cloud spend.
“The cloud provides many cost-saving opportunities to organizations, but these savings must be realized via proper architecture, tools, and design patterns. That’s where cloud professionals are required,” says Sedighi. “The investment in cloud professionals will only increase in the coming years as more organizations move the rest of their infrastructure to the cloud or new organizations start entirely on the cloud.”
Be at the Forefront of Cloud Computing Technology
If these trends in cloud computing interest you, you can train to become a cloud computing professional by earning a degree in cloud computing. Learn more about Purdue Global’s online bachelor’s degree in cloud computing or the competency-based online bachelor’s degree in cloud computing, which could help you earn your degree faster and for less money. If you’d like more information about either program, contact us today.
