Cloud computing has been making quite a splash over the last few years. Cloud technology has implanted itself in many disparate aspects of everyday life, often without us realizing it’s there. Businesses, governments, utilities, healthcare providers, software developers, and entertainment companies use cloud computing.
But where is cloud computing heading in the new year? This article makes a few predictions about cloud computing trends we can expect to see in 2024. We’ll begin with a cloud computing definition refresher, touch on the benefits and challenges of cloud computing, cloud industry trends and a way to get cloud computing training.
Let’s get started with that definition.
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing comprises IT-related services delivered through the Internet (called “the cloud”) instead of traditional data centers and in-house hardware. Cloud computing employs remote servers to serve the roles usually fulfilled by locally based hard drives and related IT infrastructures.
Cloud computing gives customers computing solutions (e.g., software, analytics, servers, storage, networking, and intelligence) over the Internet to offer flexible resources, fast innovation, and flexible economic scaling. Most cloud computing providers use the pay-as-you-go model, so clients only pay for the services they actually use.
There are three popular cloud computing deployment models.
- Private cloud. The company’s data center provides the necessary cloud computing resources.
- Public cloud. A third cloud service provider offers customers a subscription-based cloud service. This model includes popular cloud providers such as Amazon Web Services (or AWS for short), Azure, and Google Cloud Platform.
- Hybrid cloud. This model is a combination of the previous two models. Hybrid clouds let organizations take advantage of the public cloud to handle mundane tasks and usage surges, while the private cloud handles sensitive company data.
Additionally, there are three main cloud computing services.
- Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS). The provider provides clients a complete virtual infrastructure, including servers, virtualization, network, and data storage.
- Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS). The cloud provider provides and maintains the hardware and application-software platform, while the user is responsible for the apps running on it.
- Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Providers offer web applications or mobile apps that customers access via their web browser.
Some people add Everything as a Service (XaaS) and Function as a Service (FaaS) into the mix, but they are less well-known than the big three.
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What Are the Benefits of Cloud Computing?
So why has cloud computing usage exploded? Here are cloud computing’s most outstanding benefits.
- It offers customers safe and easy data backup and recovery
- It’s cost-effective because it employs the pay-per-use model. Customers pay only for what they use
- It provides effective data security
- It gives customers unlimited data storage without having to invest in infrastructure
- It’s easily accessible. If you have an Internet connection, you can access cloud services
- It’s highly flexible and easily scalable
The Challenges of Cloud Computing
However, the cloud computing picture isn’t 100 percent rosy. Cloud computing has its share of pitfalls. Here are the top five cloud computing challenges.
- Latency issues. Cloud latency is the time the cloud service operator takes to respond to the client’s request. It takes time for information to travel from the hosting center to the client and back again, and this issue will become more prevalent as more people turn to the cloud.
- Security issues. Public clouds are accessible to everyone, which increases security risks. Although providers have extraordinary security measures, no system is 100% impregnable.
- Vendor compatibility. Seamless migration between cloud vendors is potentially tricky. Some applications have compatibility issues between multiple providers.
- Limited flexibility and agency. Cloud vendors, not the clients, control the infrastructure. Customers may find their options limited by vendor management policies and end-user license guidelines.
- Occasional downtime. Sometimes, servers go down. In these instances, customers must wait until the connection comes back.
Now that we’ve seen the positives and negatives, it’s time to check out the top cloud industry trends for the coming year.
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Cloud Computing Trends in 2024
Here’s a list of the ten hottest cloud trends for the upcoming year.
The growth of edge computing
Edge computing is a decentralized IT infrastructure where data storage, computations, and applications are performed near the data source, or the “network edge.” Edge computing reduces latencies and helps compensate for areas with little connectivity to a central location. The Internet of Things (or IoT) and project management stand to benefit the most from this cloud trend.
The blockchain
Expect to see blockchain integration with the cloud. This marriage combines transparency and data security, providing reliability and traceability for supply chains and project management.
Artificial intelligence as a service
Are we ready for AI-a-a-S? Artificial intelligence is popping up everywhere today (much like cloud computing!), and we’ll soon see more instances of artificial intelligence services delivered via cloud providers to help their customers improve project management by optimizing processes, improving decision-making, and automating tasks. Businesses will have access to AI’s power without significantly investing in new technologies or infrastructure. And speaking of artificial intelligence, the next item keeps the trend going.
Improved artificial intelligence and machine learning
Today’s IT world has only begun scratching the surface of AI/ML’s potential. Like many other IT-related innovations, AI/ML development will increase exponentially. IBM continues to blaze a trail in AI and ML initiatives, and Amazon Web Services has been making progress in machine learning technology. Additionally, Google has significantly invested in machine learning-based products like Google Lens.
More hybrid and multi-cloud solutions
We expect more organizations to use hybrid and multi-cloud solutions. Both models allow businesses to spread their data and workloads across multiple cloud platforms and on-site infrastructures. Businesses can enjoy the best of various cloud providers while retaining control and agency over their apps and data.
Serverless computing
Serverless computing is a cloud computing application development and execution model that lets developers create and run application code without managing or provisioning servers or backend infrastructures. The term “serverless” is inaccurate, as servers are still employed, except the customer accessing the backend services from the serverless vendor gets charged on usage, not on a fixed number of servers or bandwidth.
Green cloud computing
Climate change is an increasing concern, so you can expect greater emphasis on energy-efficient infrastructure and renewable energy sources to reduce carbon footprints and achieve sustainability goals.
Increased security
Data security remains a major concern, and more people on the cloud means more potential for data breaches and other maliciousness. New security and resilience features such as better data encryption, access controls, and disaster recovery will inevitably be developed to protect customers’ data.
Greater competition among cloud providers
Competition is beneficial because it encourages innovation and keeps goods and services competitively priced for the consumer. Although we’ve focused primarily on the big three cloud providers (AWS, Microsoft Azure, and the Google Cloud Platform), many other cloud providers are available, such as Oracle Cloud, Tencent Cloud, Huawei Cloud, IBM Cloud, Alibaba Cloud, and Dell Technologies. Expect competition to focus on pricing models, reliability, and security.
The rise of citizen developers
The citizen developer model makes the power of connected systems available to people who don’t know how to code. Many cloud-based tools let ordinary people connect popular APIs and build customized automations. Don’t be surprised when you see AWS, Microsoft, Google, and other cloud companies release more tools to make it simple for developers to build complex apps.
The above trends are but a portion of the vast number of exciting cloud computing trends for 2024. It will undoubtedly be an exciting watershed year for the cloud computing industry.
Also Read: Azure Active Directory: The Key to Managing and Securing Your Azure Cloud Environment
Do You Want to Master Cloud Computing?
With so many exciting cloud-related developments on the horizon, now is a good time to get a solid grasp on cloud computing so that you can share the benefits and excitement of the upcoming cloud-based innovations. Cloud computing is a growing, evolving field that is always looking for talented, skilled professionals to meet the new challenges of this fascinating field.
This outstanding cloud computing course covers cloud architecture principles, focusing on two of the most popular platforms, Azure and AWS. Live virtual classes and hands-on industry projects will teach you how to design, plan, and scale advanced cloud implementations.
And when you’ve finished that post-graduate cloud computing program, follow up with this highly informative cloud computing bootcamp. This intense, 32-week program will enhance your cloud computing skills and complement the post-graduate course.
Skill cloud computer experts enjoy job security and great compensation. According to Glassdoor.com, cloud computing professionals in the United States can make an annual average salary of $94,317.
So check out one or both of these highly informative courses and improve your cloud computing skills to work with the latest trends!
FAQ
Q: What are the main trends for cloud computing in 2024?
A: In brief, the main cloud industry trends include:
- Increased security
- Improved AI and ML
- AI as a service
- Increased use of blockchains
- Serverless computing
- Greater competition among providers
Q: What are the emerging trends in IT in relation to cloud computing?
A: IT-related cloud computing trends include:
- Self-automation
- Self-learning
- High data security
- Personalized clouds
- Increased privacy
You might also like to read:
What is Cloud Computing? What You Need to Know to Get Started
How to Become a Cloud Engineer? A Complete Guide
Cloud Computing Technology: Your Complete Guide
Virtualization in Cloud Computing: Here’s Everything You Need to Know
What Are the Different Types of Cloud Computing? A Comprehensive Guide
