Cloud computing has had a pretty slow start over the past few years,. It makes sense, because there are many security and privacy concerns weighing down the technology.
It looks like that sentiment is finally waning, however. Cloud adoption in 2016 was higher than its ever been, and that trend continues as we move into 2017. Most recently, worldwide software company Epicor acquired the cloud-based enterprise content management company, docSTAR, providing just one example of a trend we can expect to see more of throughout the coming year.
Surveys indicate that 17% of enterprises have over 1,000 virtual machines deployed in the cloud, a big increase from 13% in 2015. Furthermore, 95% of survey respondents indicated they utilized cloud services.
As cloud interest and adoption rises, enterprises are forced to jump on the bandwagon or risk getting left behind. There are roadblocks and obstacles you may encounter along the way, but more importantly, the benefits far outweigh the risks.
Embracing the Cloud
Cloud solutions now provide benefits like rapid elasticity, proper scaling support, broad network access and on-demand self-service software. And these are quickly becoming necessary in todays hyper-efficient, technology-oriented world.
This, coupled with the fact that local hardware is aging fast, will push enterprises to move to the cloud.
Before the last round of hardware was purchased two-and-a-half years ago, it was an easy decision to buy more hardware,” says Jason Stowe, CEO of Cycle Computing. “But when those systems fully depreciate, I expect we’ll see an even more rapid cloud adoption. [Our clients] would much rather buy a web console.”
In that same report, Carl Brooks an analyst for 451 Research affirms that cloud adoption will continue at an alarming rate. He estimates growth for 2017 will be in the 20% to 30% range for enterprise and nearly 40% for the public cloud.
He doesnt predict any surprising shifts in the landscape though, claiming Amazon will continue to dominate, with Microsoft hot on its heels. Then theres Google, IBM, VMware, and Salesforce all trailing behind.
What Does it all Mean?
In short, it simply means that IT companies will continue to move into the cloud both enterprise and public over the coming year. The trend is sweeping the globe right now, and companies want to stay innovative and efficient.
However, this also means that successful adoption of new technologies will likely require companies to invest in more training programs and software consultants. Companies like Practical Technology Solutions, which offers Epicor consulting services to a variety of businesses, will become more necessary as more employers turn to the cloud and other new technologies to get a leg up on their competitors.
Of course, none of this is unexpected. For instance, Gartner predicted that 75% of companies will invest or have a plan to invest in big data by late 2017 which makes use of cloud computing technology.
Advancing analytical tools are the final nail in the coffin, so to speak. On a grand scale, they provide cross-platform analysis through a variety of data sources. This ultimately helps businesses to explore, visualize and rely on data collected and stored anywhere, anytime. It will also improve efficiencies and boost their bottom line. Big data is clearly the way to go, even if we dont exactly know what to do with it all yet.
In 2016, the heavy adoption of big data systems was the tipping point for cloud computing. As more businesses look to use this technology to their advantage, theyll be forced to move into the cloud, as stated previously.
What are your predictions for the coming year? Do you believe cloud computing will do the opposite, instead losing momentum?
