Cloud computing had already taken center stage long before the pandemic, but since the pandemic, it has taken even more of the spotlight, as many workers were forced to work remotely. And this looks like a situation that’s unlikely to change, for the foreseeable future. When we look at cloud technology, we see a shift from a linear evolution to a more exponential expansion. Cloud computing trends are ever more popular, with persistent and continued growth. This encourages more and more companies and organizations the world over, to move their infrastructure to the cloud. To adopt a cloud-first strategy, and as they continue to do that, we can expect the following trends in cloud computing:
1. Increased Deployment of Edge
Since many organizations started to realize the massive role that it plays in routing and network switching, security, and load balancing, edge computing has started to experience massive patronage. Edge computing is not here to replace Cloud Computing Trends, rather with its integration it looks to enhance or complement cloud computing, which together will aid and promote growth and development in any company that chooses to utilize it.
2. Server-less Functions
This is not a new thing, server-less computers have been around for several years now, which is a considerable length of time, by cloud standards. Today, the bigwigs in the world of computing are paying more attention to it, and giving it the importance that it deserves. Its objective is to offer a pay-as-you-go model which allows companies and organizations to pay solely for the services that they are using. This means the infrastructure usage will scale depending on the requirements of a particular application, without requiring any significant injection of capital.
With serverless computing you also eliminate back-end failures, providing a safe sandbox for organizations to utilize their own code. We can expect serverless computing within cloud computing to have a major part to play when it comes to user experience this year and in the years to follow.
3. AI in Cloud Computing
With cloud computing we see a significant role in the deliverance of AI (Artificial Intelligence) services Which are described by CEO Sundar Pichai of Google “it has become more profound than fire or electricity” when evaluating the kind of effect it is projected to have on our society. Machine learning platforms require a significant amount of horsepower and bandwidth, for processing data and training, and cloud datacentres are able to deliver this requirement. The vast majority of the AI that we engage with nowadays, whether it be Instagram filters or Google Search, all resides on the cloud and the technology. This technology routes all our traffic from these data centers to our individual devices, and manages all of the storage infrastructure and requirements is done using machine learning.
When we look at the evolution and development of AI and the Cloud, it’s undeniable that they are interwoven. This is a reality that will become even more entrenched with time. Some of the trends in AI will lean towards creative algorithms, generative machine learning that is capable of creating synthetic data to art, training additional AIs, in addition to language modeling, and increasing accuracy with these machines, so that they can better understand the languages of man. We can expect cloud computing to play a pivotal role in providing these services to end users, as well as providing the infrastructure to provide the service.
4. Workstation-As-a-Service
Workstation-as-a-Service refers to a solution for organizations and companies that are going through that transition from your conventional physical office to a remote working solution. WaaS works as an all-in-one solution that grants the end user or employee the ability to always access their work, irrespective of the day or time, from any interconnected device around the world.
5. Cloud Gaming On the Rise
Cloud gaming is a relatively new technology that is designed to enable end users to stream an unlimited number of games across a network for a single monthly fee. Through cloud gaming, it’s possible for individuals to play games on their laptop, desktop, or smartphone, without having to purchase an expensive console.
With the utilization of cloud technology in the gaming industry, we see increased demand and engagement for multiplayer for a vast array of games, due to it removing past barriers. With cloud gaming, there’s also no need for the end user to have their own storage space, any specific hardware equipment, and all privacy needs, all of which in the end means more sustainability and lower overall costs for everyone.
When we look at cloud gaming right now, one of the biggest companies in the field is Microsoft, with other companies like Nvidia, Samsung, Sony, Amazon, and Apple all with their own stake. Although there is still much tweaking required, to get cloud gaming to where it needs to be, this transition, from many companies to the cloud, means that the future of this technology is only set to improve and grow. It’s not unrealistic to think that in the future, the cloud will not only be one of many sources to access and play a game but be the main choice of platform for many users.
6. Reduced Security Risks
When it comes to that transition from on-premise to the cloud, many companies fear privacy breaches the most. With the pandemic, we witnessed a huge spike in security breaches all over the globe, with many companies forced to work remotely. However, with the integration of cloud computing into these current practices, we can expect that it will only diminish such threats while securing user data on behalf of the organization.
7. Kubernetes and Blockchain
For many, this might come as a surprise, the implementation or integration of Blockchain technology in cloud computing. Still, there are a lot of companies out there that have decided to adopt this idea. This is primarily because it has emerged and established itself as a game changer that is capable of solving many complex issues, whether related to management, scaling, or data storage.
