Cloud support has been the tour de force of the digital world, ushering in monumental changes for enterprises of all scales and types. For Fortune 500 companies alone, cloud computing brings in more than USD 1 trillion in value, most of which comes from business innovation and optimization fueled by cloud support services. So, if you are an entrepreneur aiming to make it big in today’s digital landscape, then sleeping on cloud computing is not an option. In this blog, we will delve into the basics of cloud support services and gauge the emerging trends dominating the domain.
What is the Cloud?
The definition of cloud is quite gray and hazy, and even a bigwig like Microsoft agrees. But, in broader terms, we can define the cloud as a global network of servers, each with its unique function. The cloud is not a physical entity but a vast network of remote servers around the globe that are linked together are designed to operate as a single ecosystem.
The cloud servers are devised for managing and storing data, running applications, or deliver a service, such as webmail, streaming videos, etc. So, in the business landscape, the cloud services multiple functions, such as cloud storage, cloud backup, software-as-a-service, cloud hosting, etc. The benefits that an enterprise reaps from the cloud are largely based on their own discretion and use of the technology.
Cloud computing services are categorized into three major domains –
- Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
SaaS is the most common type of cloud service, and it is something that we use daily. The Software-as-a-Service model makes software accessible through an app or web browser. Some SaaS programs are free, whereas others need monthly or annual subscriptions. Some popular examples of SaaS include Dropbox, Google Docs, Salesforce, etc.
- Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)
PaaS is the second category of cloud clouding services. It supports the complete lifecycle of applications, which includes helping users create, test, manage, deploy, and update the app all in one place. Renowned examples of PaaS include AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Google App Engine, Windows Azure.
- Infrastructure-as-a-Service
These kinds of cloud support services give customers access to servers, hardware, and data storage—all in the cloud—as well as other fundamental computer infrastructure functions.
IaaS provides enterprises access to large platforms and applications without the need for massive onsite physical infrastructure. Renowned examples of IaaS are DigitalOcean, Amazon EC2, etc.
Now that we have touched upon the basics of cloud computing, let us delve into the cream of the topic – the emerging trends and developments in cloud support services.
Top 4 Trends in Cloud Support Services
- Cloud Ubiquity
The first and the most pertinent trend in cloud support is its ubiquity and prevalence. Currently, the cloud underpins most new technological disruptions, including composable businesses, and has proven itself as resilient, scalable, flexible, and speedy, even in times of uncertainty. The coming up of hybrid, multi cloud, and edge environments are further setting a new stage for distributed cloud models.
In addition, new wireless communication developments, such as 5G, are pushing cloud adoption to a new level of wider, deeper, and more ubiquitous adoption. Unique use cases of cloud support services, such as in enhanced mobile banking, healthcare, also propping up and paving paths for new trends. The ultimate result is that the global adoption of cloud will expand and escalate rapidly.
- Sustainability as a Driver of Innovation
In 2024, the awareness regarding climate change has increased vehemently. The public now wants accountability from enterprises of all scales and types. Moreover, the accountability regarding climate change is not limited to particular aspects of a business’s operations and is expected in every domain. Thus, businesses are quickly realizing that they play a major part in tackling climate change, and must make concerted efforts to bring about proactive change. In today’s tech-based world, these efforts often revolve around reducing energy usage linked to powerful computing engines, behemoth digital storage requirements, and the rising costs of providing 24/7 energy and infrastructure to consumers.
So, currently, sustainability is one of the major drivers of innovation in cloud support. Amazon – the biggest cloud company in the world – is now the biggest buyer of renewable energy, and has 206 of its own projects of sustainable energy operating worldwide, which generate approximately 8.5GW of energy per year.
- AI in Cloud Computing
The third biggest trending seeping through the landscape of cloud support is the injection of AI-related advancements. Cloud computing plays a prominent role in the delivery of artificial intelligence services. Similarly, Machine Learning platforms also need huge processing power and data bandwidth to train and process data, and cloud data centers make this available to anyone.
In fact, most of the everyday AI we see around us, such as Google Search, Alexa, Instagram filters, etc, all live in the cloud – the technology that routes traffic from data centers to different devices and manages storage infrastructure. So, long story short, the development and evolution of cloud and IA are intricately women.
- Regional Cloud Ecosystems
The fourth and quite fascinating trend looming over the landscape of cloud support is regional cloud ecosystems. Growing protectionism, geopolitical regulatory fragmentation, and the development of new vertical and regional cloud ecosystems and data services is being fueled by industry compliance. So, companies in the financial and public sectors are searching for ways to mitigate critical lock-in and single points of failure with their cloud providers beyond their country.
The only option left to regions that are unable to develop or maintain their own platform ecosystems is to use the platforms developed in other regions and turn to laws and regulations to preserve and guarantee a certain degree of autonomy and control.
Wrapping It Up
So, there we have it, a crisp overview of cloud support services and the four emerging trends related to cloud. Besides the four pointers mentioned above, some other trends worth watching out in the landscape of cloud support include serverless cloud, hybrid cloud that blurs the boundaries of public and private clouds, and so forth. The future of the cloud is, indeed, quite interesting.
